ST A7986A User Manual

3 A step-down switching regulator for automotive applications

Features

■ Qualified following AEC-Q100 requirements

■ 3 A DC output current

■ 4.5 V to 38 V input voltage

■ Output voltage adjustable from 0.6 V

■ 250 kHz switching frequency, programmable

up to 1 MHz

■ Internal soft-start and enable

■ Low dropout operation: 100% duty cycle

■ Voltage feed-forward

■ Zero load current operation

■ Overcurrent and thermal protection

■ HSOP8 package

Applications

■ Dedicated to automotive applications

■ Automotive LED driving

A7986A

Datasheet − production data

HSOP8 exposed pad

Description

The A7986A is a step-down switching regulator
with a 3.7 A (min.) current limited embedded
power MOSFET, so it is able to deliver up to 3 A
current to the load depending on the application
conditions.

The input voltage can range from 4.5 V to 38 V,
while the output voltage can be set starting from

0.6 V to V

Requiring a minimum set of external components,
the device includes an internal 250 kHz switching
frequency oscillator that can be externally
adjusted up to 1 MHz.

.

IN

The HSOP package with exposed pad allows the
reduction of R

down to 40°C/W.

thJA

Figure 1. Application circuit

March 2012 Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 1/43

This is information on a product in full production.

www.st.com

43

Contents A7986A

Contents

1 Pin settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.1 Pin connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.2 Pin description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Maximum ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

3 Thermal data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4 Electrical characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5 Functional description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5.1 Oscillator and synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

5.2 Soft-start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

5.3 Error amplifier and compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

5.4 Overcurrent protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

5.5 Enable function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

5.6 Hysteretic thermal shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

6 Application information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6.1 Input capacitor selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6.2 Inductor selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

6.3 Output capacitor selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

6.4 Compensation network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

6.4.1 Type III compensation network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

6.4.2 Type II compensation network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

6.5 Thermal considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

6.6 Layout considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

6.7 Application circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

7 Application ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

7.1 Positive buck-boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

7.2 Inverting buck-boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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A7986A Contents

8 Package mechanical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

9 Order codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

10 Revision history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 3/43

Pin settings A7986A

1 Pin settings

1.1 Pin connection

Figure 2. Pin connection (top view)

1.2 Pin description

Table 1. Pin description

N. Type Description

1 OUT Regulator output

Master/slave synchronization. When it is left floating, a signal with a
phase shift of half a period in respect to the power turn-on is present at
the pin. When connected to an external signal at a frequency higher than

2 SYNCH

3EN

4 COMP Error amplifier output to be used for loop frequency compensation

5FB

6F

7 GND Ground

8V

SW

CC

the internal one, the device is synchronized by the external signal, with
zero phase shift.

Connecting together the SYNCH pins of two devices, the one with the
higher frequency works as master and the other as slave; so the two
powers turn-ons have a phase shift of half a period.

A logical signal (active high) enables the device. With EN higher than

1.2 V the device is ON and with EN lower than 0.3 V the device is OFF.

Feedback input. Connecting the output voltage directly to this pin the out­put voltage is regulated at 0.6 V. To have higher regulated voltages an
external resistor divider is required from Vout to the FB pin.

The switching frequency can be increased connecting an external resis­tor from the FSW pin and ground. If this pin is left floating the device
works at its free-running frequency of 250 KHz.

Unregulated DC input voltage

4/43 Doc ID 022801 Rev 2

A7986A Maximum ratings

2 Maximum ratings

Table 2. Absolute maximum ratings

Symbol Parameter Value Unit

Vcc Input voltage 45

OUT Output DC voltage -0.3 to V

FSW, COMP, SYNCH Analog pin -0.3 to 4

EN Enable pin -0.3 to V

FB Feedback voltage -0.3 to 1.5

P

TOT

T

J

T

stg

3 Thermal data

Table 3. Thermal data

Symbol Parameter Value Unit

R

thJA

1. Package mounted on demonstration board.

Maximum thermal resistance
junction-ambient

CC

V

CC

Power dissipation

< 60 °C

at T

A

HSOP 2 W

Junction temperature range -40 to 150 °C

Storage temperature range -55 to 150 °C

(1)

HSOP8 40 °C/W

Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 5/43

Electrical characteristics A7986A

4 Electrical characteristics

TJ=-40 °C to 125 °C, VCC=12 V, unless otherwise specified.

Table 4. Electrical characteristics

Val ues

Symbol Parameter Test condition

Min. Typ. Max.

Unit

V

V

CCON

V

CCHYS

R

DSON

I

LIM

CC

Operating input voltage
range

4.5 38

Tur n - on VCC threshold 4.5

VCC UVLO hysteresis 0.1 0.4

MOSFET on-resistance 200 400 mΩ

T

=25 °C 3.7 5.2

Maximum limiting current

J

3.5 5.2

Oscillator

Switching frequency 210 250 275 KHz

FSW pin voltage 1.254 V

V

F

FSW

SW

D Duty cycle 0 100 %

F

ADJ

Adjustable switching
frequency

=33 kΩ 1000 KHz

R

FSW

Dynamic characteristics

V

FB

Feedback voltage 4.5 V<VCC<38 V 0.582 0.6 0.618 V

DC characteristics

I

Q

Quiescent current

Duty Cycle=0, V

0.8 V

FB

=

V

A

2.4 mA

I

QST-BY

Total standby quiescent
current

Enable

Device OFF level 0.3

V

EN

I

EN

EN threshold voltage

Device ON level 1.2

EN current EN=V

CC

Soft-start

FSW pin floating 7.3 8.2 9.8

T

SS

Soft-start duration

F
R

SW

FSW

=1 MHz,

=33 kΩ

6/43 Doc ID 022801 Rev 2

20 30 µA

V

7.5 10 µA

ms

2

A7986A Electrical characteristics

Table 4. Electrical characteristics (continued)

Val ues

Symbol Parameter Test condition

Min. Typ. Max.

Error amplifier

Unit

V

CH

V

CL

I

O SOURCE

I

O SINK

G

High level output voltage VFB<0.6 V 3

Low level output voltage VFB>0.6 V 0.1

Source COMP pin VFB=0.5 V, V

Sink COMP pin

Open loop voltage gain

V

Synchronization function

V

S_IN,HI

V

S_IN,LO

t

S_IN_PW

I

SYNCH,LO

V

S_OUT,HI

t

S_OUT_PW

High input voltage 2 3.3

Low input voltage 1

Input pulse width

Slave sink current V

Master output amplitude I

Output pulse width SYNCH floating 110 ns

Protection

Thermal shutdown 150

T

SHDN

1. Guaranteed by design.

Hysteresis 30

=0.7 V,

V

FB

V

COMP

(1)

V

S_IN,HI

V

S_IN,LO

V

S_IN,HI

V

S_IN,LO

SYNCH

SOURCE

=1 V 19 mA

COMP

=0.75 V

30 mA

100 dB

=3 V,

=0 V

=2 V,

=1 V

100

300

=2.9 V 0.7 1 mA

=4.5 mA 2 V

V

V

ns

°C

Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 7/43

Functional description A7986A

5 Functional description

The A7986A is based on a “voltage mode”, constant frequency control. The output voltage

is sensed by the feedback pin (FB) compared to an internal reference (0.6 V) providing

V

OUT

an error signal that, compared to a fixed frequency sawtooth, controls the on and off time of
the power switch.

The main internal blocks are shown in the block diagram in Figure 3. They are:

● A fully integrated oscillator that provides sawtooth to modulate the duty cycle and the

synchronization signal. Its switching frequency can be adjusted by an external resistor.
The voltage and frequency feed-forward are implemented

● The soft-start circuitry to limit inrush current during the startup phase

● The voltage mode error amplifier

● The pulse width modulator and the relative logic circuitry necessary to drive the internal

power switch

● The high-side driver for embedded P-channel power MOSFET switch

● The peak current limit sensing block, to handle overload and short-circuit conditions

● A voltage regulator and internal reference. It supplies internal circuitry and provides a

fixed internal reference

● A voltage monitor circuitry (UVLO) that checks the input and internal voltages

● A thermal shutdown block, to prevent thermal run-away.

Figure 3. Block diagram

TRIMMING UVLO

TRIMMING UVLOUVLO

EN

EN

COMP

COMP

0.6V

0.6V

SOFT-

SOFT-

START

START

EN

EN

FB

FB

REGULATOR

REGULATOR

REGULATOR

&

&

&

BANDGAP

BANDGAP

BANDGAP

1.254V 3.3V

1.254V 3.3V

THERMAL

THERMAL

SHUTDOWN

SHUTDOWN

E/A

E/A

OSCILLATOR

OSCILLATOR

FSW

FSW

PWM

PWM

GND

GND

PEAK

PEAK

CURRENT

CURRENT

LIMIT

LIMIT

SRQ

SRQ

SYNCH

SYNCH

&

&

PHASE SHIFT

PHASE SHIFT

SYNCH

SYNCH

DRIVER

DRIVER

VCC

VCC

OUT

OUT

8/43 Doc ID 022801 Rev 2

A7986A Functional description

5.1 Oscillator and synchronization

Figure 4 shows the block diagram of the oscillator circuit. The internal oscillator provides a

constant frequency clock. Its frequency depends on the resistor externally connected to the
FSW pin. If the FSW pin is left floating, the frequency is 250 kHz; it can be increased as
shown in Figure 6 by an external resistor connected to ground.

To improve the line transient performance, keeping the PWM gain constant versus the input
voltage, the voltage feed-forward is implemented by changing the slope of the sawtooth
according to the input voltage change (see Figure 5.a).

The slope of the sawtooth also changes if the oscillator frequency is increased by the
external resistor. In this way a frequency feed-forward is implemented (Figure 5.b) in order
to keep the PWM gain constant versus the switching frequency (see Section 6.4 for PWM
gain expression).

The synchronization signal is generated on the SYNCH pin. This signal has a phase shift of
180° with respect to the clock. This delay is useful when two devices are synchronized
connecting the SYNCH pins together. When the SYNCH pins are connected, the device with
higher oscillator frequency works as master, so the slave device switches at the frequency
of the master but with a delay of half a period. This minimizes the RMS current flowing
through the input capacitor (see the L5988D datasheet).

Figure 4. Oscillator circuit block diagram

Clock

ClockClock

FSW

FSW

The device can be synchronized to work at higher frequency feeding an external clock
signal. The synchronization changes the sawtooth amplitude, changing the PWM gain
(Figure 5.c). This change must be taken into account when the loop stability is studied. To
minimize the change of the PWM gain, the free-running frequency should be set (with a
resistor on the FSW pin) only slightly lower than the external clock frequency. This pre­adjusting of the frequency changes the sawtooth slope in order to render the truncation of
sawtooth negligible, due to the external synchronization.

Clock

Clock

Generator

Generator

Synchronization

Synchronization

Ramp

Ramp

Generator

Generator

SYNCH

SYNCH

Sawtooth

Sawtooth

Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 9/43

Functional description A7986A

Figure 5. Sawtooth: voltage and frequency feed-forward; external synchronization

Figure 6. Oscillator frequency vs. FSW pin resistor

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A7986A Functional description

5.2 Soft-start

Soft-start is essential to assure a correct and safe startup of the step-down converter. It
avoids inrush current surge and makes the output voltage increase monothonically.

Soft-start is performed by a staircase ramp on the non-inverting input (V

) of the error

REF

amplifier. So the output voltage slew rate is:

Equation 1

VREF

⎛⎞

1

------- -+

⋅=

⎝⎠

R2

where SR

SR

is the slew rate of the non-inverting input, while R1and R2 is the resistor

VREF

OUT

SR

R1

divider to regulate the output voltage (see Figure 7). The soft-start staircase consists of 64
steps of 9.5 mV each, from 0 V to 0.6 V. The time base of one step is of 32 clock cycles. So
the soft-start time and then the output voltage slew rate depend on the switching frequency.

Figure 7. Soft-start scheme

Soft-start time results:

Equation 2

32 64⋅

SS

TIME

--------------------=

Fsw

For example, with a switching frequency of 250 kHz, the SS

Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 11/43

TIME

is 8 ms.

Functional description A7986A

5.3 Error amplifier and compensation

The error amplifier (EA) provides the error signal to be compared with the sawtooth to
perform the pulse width modulation. Its non-inverting input is internally connected to a 0.6 V
voltage reference, while its inverting input (FB) and output (COMP) are externally available
for feedback and frequency compensation. In this device the error amplifier is a voltage
mode operational amplifier so with high DC gain and low output impedance.

The uncompensated error amplifier characteristics are the following:

Table 5. Uncompensated error amplifier characteristics

Low frequency gain 100 dB

GBWP 4.5 MHz

Slew rate 7 V/µs

Output voltage swing 0 to 3.3 V

Maximum source/sink current 17 mA/25 mA

In continuous conduction mode (CCM), the transfer function of the power section has two
poles due to the LC filter and one zero due to the ESR of the output capacitor. Different
kinds of compensation networks can be used depending on the ESR value of the output
capacitor. If the zero introduced by the output capacitor helps to compensate the double
pole of the LC filter, a Type II compensation network can be used. Otherwise, a Type III
compensation network must be used (see Section 6.4 for details of the compensation
network selection).

Anyway, the methodology to compensate the loop is to introduce zeros to obtain a safe
phase margin.

12/43 Doc ID 022801 Rev 2

A7986A Functional description

5.4 Overcurrent protection

The A7986A implements the overcurrent protection sensing current flowing through the
power MOSFET. Due to the noise created by the switching activity of the power MOSFET,
the current sensing is disabled during the initial phase of the conduction time. This avoids an
erroneous detection of a fault condition. This interval is generally known as “masking time”
or “blanking time”. The masking time is about 200 ns.

If the overcurrent limit is reached, the power MOSFET is turned off implementing the pulse­by-pulse overcurrent protection. Under the overcurrent condition, the device can skip turn­on pulses in order to keep the output current constant and equal to the current limit. If, at the
end of the “masking time”, the current is higher than the overcurrent threshold, the power
MOSFET is turned off and one pulse is skipped. If, at the following switching on, when the
“masking time” ends, the current is still higher than the overcurrent threshold, the device
skips two pulses. This mechanism is repeated and the device can skip up to seven pulses.
While, if at the end of the “masking time” the current is lower than the overcurrent threshold,
the number of skipped cycles is decreased by one unit (see Figure 8).

So the overcurrent/short-circuit protection acts by switching off the power MOSFET and
reducing the switching frequency down to one eighth of the default switching frequency, in
order to keep constant the output current around the current limit.

This kind of overcurrent protection is effective if the output current is limited. To prevent the
current from diverging, the current ripple in the inductor during the on-time must not be
higher than the current ripple during the off-time. That is:

Equation 3

VINV–

-------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- - -

If the output voltage is shorted, V

OUT

R

⋅ DCR I

DSONIOUT

⋅

LF

SW

⋅––

OUT

OUT

≅ 0, I

V

OUTVFRDSONIOUT

--------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------

D⋅

OUT=ILIM

, D/FSW=T

⋅ DCR I

LF

⋅

SW

ON_MIN

, (1-D)/FSW≅ 1/FSW. So,

⋅++ +

OUT

1D–()⋅=

from the above equation, the maximum switching frequency that guarantees to limit the
current results:

Equation 4

VFDCR I⋅+

With R

*

F

SW

=300 mΩ, DRC=0.08 Ω, the worst condition is with VIN=38 V, I

DSon

()

--------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

V

INRDSON

LIM

DCR+()I

⋅–()

LIM

------------------------ -

⋅=

T

ON_MIN

1

=3.7 A; the

LIM

maximum frequency to keep the output current limited during the short-circuit results
88 kHz.

Based on the pulse-by-pulse mechanism, that reduces the switching frequency down to one
eighth, the maximum F

, adjusted by the FSW pin, which assures that a full effective

SW

output current limitation is 88 kHz*8 = 706 kHz.

If, with V

= 38 V, the switching frequency is set higher than 706 kHz, during short-circuit

IN

condition the system finds a different equilibrium with higher current. For example, with
F

=800 kHz and the output shorted to ground, the output current is limited around:

SW

Doc ID 022801 Rev 2 13/43