The SC1146 is the latest, high performance, multiphase (PWM) controller designed for high power microprocessors requiring ultra fast transient response.
The SC1146 is programmable for the voltage range
required by the latest Microprocessors . Utilizing a
novel and unique design, the controller distributes the
output load across (up to) four converter channels by
digitally phase shifting the PWM outputs. This approach greatly reduces the stress and heat on the output stage components while lowering input ripple current by as much as 80%. Accurate current sharing
among the four phases is achieved by precision design
techniques and trimming of critical elements.
The high speed transconductance error amplifier is externally initialized using a soft-start capacitor allowing
the controller to “wake-up” without overshoot, thus protecting the low voltage microprocessor loads. The output drive voltage to the power MOSFETs is programmable to minimize switching losses in the drive
circuitry.
The output voltage is digitally programmable by means
of a 5 bit DAC (new codes). A single resistor programs
the master clock frequency (8MHz max) or the clock
can be supplied by an external source where exact frequency control is desired. The number of operating
phases is programmed independently of the external
clock. The parts features under-voltage lock-out with
hysteresis and over-current protection.
SC1146
FEATURES
•= Allows use of small surface mount components
•= Ultra fast transient recovery time
•= Dramatic reduction of input ripple current and out-
put ripple voltage
•= 5-bit programmable DAC for the latest, lower
output voltage Microprocessors
•= Wide, High frequency operating range
•= Selectable 2, 3, 4 phase operation
•= +5 Volt only operation eliminates the need for
+12V supply
•= Precision load current sharing,1%PWM match
•= Selectable internal or external clock
•= Soft start/UVLO/Over current protection
APPLICATIONS
•= High end servers and workstations
•= High current/Ultra-fast transient microprocessors
ORDERING INFORMATION
DEVICE
SC1146CSW.TRSO-240 - 85°C
Note:
(1) Only available in tape and reel packaging. A reel
contains 1000 devices.
Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation
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Page 2
VRM9.0 PROGRAMMABLE, MULTI-PHASE,
HIGH PERFORMANCE PWM CONTROLLER
SC1146
July 25, 2000
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
ParameterSymbolLimitsUnits
to GNDV
V
CC5V
cc5v
-0.3 to + 12V
FBG to GNDFBG± 1V
to GNDV
V
CC2
Operating Temperature RangeT
Junction Temperature RangeT
Storage Temperature RangeT
Thermal Resistance Junction to Case
Thermal Resistance Junction to Ambient
Lead Temperature (Soldering) 10 secT
4ExtclkExternal Clock Input. The output frequency is determined by (Clock Input
Freq.)/4. Output freq.= (Clock Input)/4. Pull up to Vcc5v to select internal
clock.
5R
REF
Connects to external reference resistor. Sets the operating frequency of
the internal clock and the ramp time for the PWM. Reference voltage at
this pin is 2.05V. Trimmed to set 250µA at 8MHz.
6VID0
7VID1
8VID2
9VID3
10VID4
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Programming Input (LSB)
Programming Input
Programming Input
Programming Input
Programming Input (MSB)
11OC+Over current comparator. Non-Inverting input.
12OC-Over current comparator. Inverting input.
13COMPCompensation Pin. Compensation is acheived by connecting a capacitor in
series with a resistor between this pin and FBG. A 300K ohm resistor
must also be directly connected between this pin and FBG.
14FBFeedback input connected to supply output.
15BG
OUT
Bandgap Reference Output. Output resistance = 3Kohm. Must be
bypassed with 4.7nF-100nF capacitor to FBG. This capacitor programs the
soft start time.
16FBGFeedback Ground. This pin must be connected to return side of output
caps. This pin is not internally connected to GND.
17ENABLEConnects to 5V to ENABLE. Connect to GND to disable entire device.
18GNDGround Pin
19DRV2Phase 2 output, output voltage range ~.3V - V
20DRV0Phase 0 output, output voltage range ~.3V - V
CC2
CC2
- 1V.
- 1V.
21VCC2Supply voltage for the DRV0-3, may be connected to +5V or +12V supply.
There is no Undervoltage Lockout on this pin.
22DRV1Phase 1 output, output voltage range ~.3V - V
23DRV3Phase 3 output, output voltage range ~.3V - V
CC2
CC2
- 1V.
- 1V.
24PWRGOODPower good should be pulled-up to 5V supply via a 3K - 10K resistor.
NOTE: (1) All logic inputs and outputs are open collector TTL compatible.
VRM9.0 PROGRAMMABLE, MULTI-PHASE,
HIGH PERFORMANCE PWM CONTROLLER
SC1146
THEORY OF OPERATION
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
The SC1146 is a programmable, high performance,
multi-phase controller designed for the most demanding DC/DC converter applications in which transient
response, space, input ripple current and component
form factor and cost are paramount. The SC1146 is
configured to operate with external MOSFET drivers,
such as the SC1405, in high efficiency synchronous
applications (See Evaluation Board Schematic).
The SC1146 based dc/dc converter consists of four
buck converter controllers integrated and synchronized. The high clock frequency allows for smaller inductor values and miniature surface mount, low inductance output capacitors. Since each stage has ¼ the
output current, the conduction losses in each stage is
reduced by a factor of 1/16. Precision active trimming
ensures 1% matching of duty cycles among phases,
thus ensuring the heat and component stress is shared
equally. The SC1146 may also be configured in asynchronous mode by using buffer transistors.
ables the PWM controller sequentially. A resistor from
pin to FBG programs the frequency and ramp time.
R
REF
Clock Freq = (8.2K/Rref) *8Mhz
The ramps are then compared to the error amplifier out-
put at the high speed PWM comparator inputs. The controller outputs are buffered versions of the comparator
outputs.
Fig. 1: V
Ripple, V
OUT
= 1.0V, I
OUT
OUT
= 30A
DECODER/BIAS GENERATOR/PWM CONTROLLER
The 8 MHz clock is divided down to 2 MHz for four
phase operation by the clock decoder. The start of the
output pulses are time shifted 90 degrees by the decoder with respect to each other. The Bias Generator
generates the ramps to each phase by a precision
trimmed current source and on-chip capacitors. The
decoder, which is synchronized to the bias generator
via the master clock, phase shifts the ramps and en-
Fig. 2: The four Gate Drives firing 90° out of phase.
V
= 1.0V, I
OUT
= 10A,Vcc2=12V, Asynchronous
OUT
operation.
ERROR AMPLIFIER
At the heart of the controller is an ultra-fast, transconductance error amplifier. Since the output inductor values can be selected to be a minimum, usually less than
a micro-Henry, the delays due to inductor ramp time are
minimized during transient load recovery. The higher
frequency of operation also allows use of much smaller
capacitance on the output. This means that the dc/dc
converter output capacitors “hold time” is less. The error
amplifier must therefore respond extremely fast
“Recover the Fort” after a transient. The SC1146 error
amplifier recovers to its normal duty cycle after application of a full load transient within 2 usec maximum,
(largely dependant on supply quality) and usually within
1usec. This minimizes undershoot and overshoot during
application of a transient.
VRM9.0 PROGRAMMABLE, MULTI-PHASE,
HIGH PERFORMANCE PWM CONTROLLER
SC1146
ERROR AMPLIFIER CONT.
Fig. 3: Transient response, Top trace, Current sense
8A/div @ 30A/usec. Bottom trace, V
OUT
.
BANDGAP REFERENCE/SOFT START
The precision internal bandgap reference provides a
stable, temperature compensated 2.05 V reference for
the error amplifier’s non-inverting input, the DAC
REF
for
the VID digital to analog converter, the under-voltage
lock-out circuitry as well as the reference for the Bias
generator current sources. The error amplifiers noninverting input is connected to the bandgap reference
through a 3Kohm resistor, which is also externally connected to a soft-start capacitor via the BG
pin. Upon
OUT
application of power, the non-inverting input of the error amplifier is held low for a short time, set by the RC
product of the soft-start capacitor and 3Kohm, allowing
for the decoder and PWM controller to settle. This prevents any harmful output voltage overshoots upon start
up or after a converter shut-down (as a result of overcurrent or the enable pin pulled low). The non-inverting
input then ramps up according to the RC time constant
allowing gradual rise of output voltage.
OVER-CURRENT COMPARATOR
The SC1146 has an internal over-current comparator
designed to sense current in the input supply path.
The comparator inputs have a high common voltage
range thus allowing operation under all possible voltage/current combinations. The output of the comparator pulls the BG
(soft start) pin low thus disabling the
OUT
error amplifier and causing the PWM outputs to enter
minimum duty cycle mode, regulating the output at a
minimum voltage. A current sense trace may be used
as the current sense resistor. This will utilize the trace
as input filter inductor, thus preventing conducted
emissions to input supply. For details of programming
the overcurrent comparator, refer to SC1144-EVB user
manual.
Fig. 4: Transient response, Top trace, Gate Drive
SC1146 Special features:
Bottom trace, Transient current 16A/div @ 30A/usec.
The SC1146 is a special version of the original
SC1144, 4-phase PWM controller, with the latest
The error amplifier has two inverting inputs, one for the
High Range, (VID4 set to logic high) and one input for
the Low Range. The effective gain of the error amplifier stays constant in both ranges keeping the loop gain
constant regardless of output voltage range.
VRM9.0 VID codes which allow programming lower
output voltages required by the latest Microprocessors.
Also a +12V supply is no longer required. The V
CC2
and
PWRGOOD pins can be connected to Vcc5v. This
eases the connection to “5V-only” MOSFET drivers,
such as the SC1405. The DRVs will swing to Vcc5v,
eliminating the need for +12V to +5V level shifting.
There is no Under-Voltage Lockout on V
VRM9.0 PROGRAMMABLE, MULTI-PHASE,
HIGH PERFORMANCE PWM CONTROLLER
July 25, 2000
An evaluation board is available which may be ordered directly from the factory. SC1146/1405EVB is a DC/DC
converter utilizing the SC1146 four-phase controller in a high current synchronous application. The evaluation
board is intended as a guideline for board design, layout and to assess key performance parameters, such as transient response, thermal stress management and input and output ripple considerations. The SC1146EVB includes
a DIP switch for mode/voltage selection as well as qualified selection of components for the SC1146 operation.
The SC1144EVB user manual contains useful general applications information applicable to SC1146 and may be
accessed from our website at www.semtech.com.