TheL4974Aisa stepdownmonolithicpowerswitching regulator delivering 3.5A at a voltage variable
from5.1to 40V.
Realized with BCD mixed technology, the device
uses a DMOSoutputtransistorto obtainveryhigh
efficiencyandveryfastswitchingtimes.Featuresof
L4974A
3.5ASWITCHINGREGULATOR
MULTIPO WER B CD TECHNOLOGY
POWERDIP (16+2+2)
ORDERINGNUMBER : L4974A
the L4974A include resetand power fail for microprocessors,feed forwardline regulation,soft start,
limiting current and thermal protection.The device
ismountedin aPowerdip16+2 +2plasticpackage
and requires few external components. Efficient
operation at switching frequencies up to 200KHz
allowsreductioninthesizeandcostof externalfilter
component.
BLOCK DIAGRAM
June 2000
This is advanced information on a new product now in development or undergoing evaluation. Details are subject to change without notice.
1/22
L4974A
ABSOLU TE MAXIMUM RAT INGS
SymbolParameterValu eUnit
V
11
V
11
V
20
I
20
V
I
V
4,V8
V
3
I
3
V
2,V7,V9,V10
I
2
I
7
I
8
P
tot
T
J,Tstg
InputVoltage55V
InputOperatingVoltage50V
OutputDC Voltage
OutputPeak Voltageat t = 0.1µs f = 200khz
-1
-5
Maximum Output CurrentInternally Limited
BoostrapVoltage
BoostrapOperating Voltage
65
V
+15
11
InputVoltage at Pins4, 1212V
Reset Output Voltage50V
Reset Output Sink Current50mA
InputVoltage at Pin 2, 7, 9, 107V
Reset Delay Sink Current30mA
ErrorAmplifier Output Sink Current1A
Soft Start Sink Current30mA
TotalPower Dissipation at T
9FEEDBACK INPUTThe Feedback Terminal of the Regulation Loop.The output is connected directly to
10SYNC INPUTMultiple L4974A’s are synchronized by connecting pin 10 inputs together or via an
11SUPPLYVOLTAGEUnregulated InputVoltage.
12,19 N.C.Not Connected.
13V
14V
ref
start
17OSCILLATORR
18OSCILLATORC
20OUTPUTRegulator Output.
NameFunction
capacitor connected between this terminal and the output allows to drive
boot
properlythe internalD-MOS transistor.
capacitor connected between this terminal and ground determines the reset
d
signaldelay time.
and theoutput voltages are safe.
tothe inputforpowerfailfunction.It mustbe connectedtothepin14anexternal30K
resistorwhen power fail signal not required.
A series RC network connected between this terminal and ground determines the
regulation loop gaincharacteristics.
to define the soft start time constant.
thisterminal for5.1V operation; It is connectedvia a dividerfor higher voltages.
externalsyncr. pulse.
5.1VV
DeviceReferenceVoltage.
ref
InternalStart-up Circuit to Drive the PowerStage.
. Externalresistorconnected to grounddeterminestheconstantchargingcurrent
osc
of C
.
osc
. External capacitor connected to ground determines (with R
osc
frequency.
) the switching
osc
Ω
3/22
L4974A
CIRCU I T OP ER ATION
The L4974Ais a 3.5Amonolithic stepdownswitchingregulatorworkingincontinuousmoderealizedin
the new BCD Technology. This technologyallows
theintegrationofisolatedverticalDMOSpowertransistorsplusmixed CMOS/Bipolartransistors.
Thedevicecandeliver3.5Aat anoutputvoltageadjustable from 5.1V to 40V and containsdiagnostic
and control functionsthat make it particularly suitable for microprocessorbasedsystems.
BLOCKDIAGRAM
The block diagram shows the DMOSpowertran-
sistorsand the PWM controlloop. Integratedfunctions include a reference voltage trimmed to 5.1V
±2%,softstart,undervoltagelockout,oscillatorwith
feedforward control, pulse by pulse current limit,
thermal shutdown and finally the reset and power
fail circuit.The reset and power failcircuit provides
an outputsignalfora microprocessorindicatingthe
statusof the system.
Deviceturn on is around11V witha typical1V hysterysis,thisthresholdporvidesa correctvoltagefor
the driving stageof the DMOSgateand thehysterysispreventsinstabilities.
Anexternalbootstrapcapacitorchargeto 12Vbyan
internalvoltagereferenceis neededto providecorrect gatedriveto the powerDMOS.Thedrivingcircuit is able to source and sink peak currents of
around0.5A to the gate of the DMOS transistor.A
typical switching time of the current in the DMOS
transistor is 50ns. Due to the fast commutation
switchingfrequenciesup to 200kHzare possible.
The PWMcontrolloopconsistsof a sawtoothoscillator,erroramplifier,comparator,latch andthe outputstage.An errorsignalisproducedby comparing
theoutputvoltagewiththeprecise5.1V±2%onchip
reference.This error signal is then compared with
the sawtooth oscillator in order to generate frixed
frequencypulsewidth modulateddrive for the output stage. A PWM latch is included to eliminate
multiple pulsingwithin a period even in noisy environments.
Thegainand stabilityoftheloopcanbe adjustedby
an externalRC networkconnectedto the outputof
the error amplifier. A voltage feedforward control
has beenaddedto the oscillator,this maintainssuperior line regulation over a wide input voltage
range.Closingthe loopdirectlygivesan outputvoltageof 5.1V,highervoltagesareobtainedbyinserting a voltagedivider.
Atturnon,outputovercurrentsarepreventedbythe
soft start function(fig. 2). The error amplifier is initiallyclampedbyan externalcapacitor,Css,and allowedto riselinearlyunderthe chargeof aninternal
constantcurrentsource.
Outputoverloadprotectionis providedby a current
limitcircuit. Theload currentis sensedby a internal
metalresistorconnectedtoacomparator.Whenthe
loadcurrentexceedsa presetthreshold,the output
of the comparatorsetsa flipflop whichturns offthe
powerDMOS.Thenextclockpulse,fromaninternal
40kHzoscillator,willresettheflipflopandthepower
DMOS will again conduct. This current protection
method,ensuresaconstantcurrentoutputwhenthe
systemis overloadedorshortcircuitedandlimitsthe
switchingfrequency,inthiscondition,to 40kHz.The
Reset and Power fail circuit (fig. 4), generates an
output signal when the supply voltage exceeds a
threshold programmed by an external voltage divider. The reset signal, is generated with a delay
timeprogrammedbya externalcapacitoronthedelay pin. When the supply voltage falls below the
thresholdor the outputvoltage goes below5V, the
resetoutputgoeslowimmediately.The resetoutput
is an opendrain.
Fig. 4A shows thecasewhen the supplyvoltageis
higherthan the threshold,but the output voltage is
not yet 5V.
Fig.4Bshowsthecasewhentheoutputis5.1V,but
the supply voltage is not yet higher than the fixed
threshold.
The thermal protection disables circuit operation
when the junction temperature reaches about
150°C and has a hysterysis to prevent unstable
conditions.
4/22
Figure1 : FeedforwardWaveform.
Figure2 : SoftStart Function.
L4974A
Figure3 : LimitingCurrent Function.
5/22
L4974A
Figure4 : Resetand PowerFail Functions.
A
B
6/22
L4974A
ELECTRICALCHARACTERISTICS (referto the test circuit, TJ=25°C,Vi=35V, R4= 30KΩ,