42V, 2.5A Synchronous Step-Down Regulator with 2.

5µA
Quiescent Current
Design Note 504
Hua (Walker) Bai

Introduction Short-Circuit Robustness Using Small Inductors

The LT®8610 and LT8611 are 42V, 2.5A synchronous The LT8610 and LT8611 are specifically designed to
step-down regulators that meet the stringent high minimize solution size by allowing inductor size to be
input voltage and low output voltage requirements of selected based on the output load requirements of the
automotive, industrial and communications applica- application, rather than the maximum current limits of
tions. To minimize external components and solution the IC. During overload or short-circuit conditions, the
size, the top and bottom power switches are integrated LT8610 and LT8611 safely tolerate operation with satu-
in a synchronous regulator topology, including internal rated inductors through the use of a high speed peak-
compensation. The regulator consumes only 2.5μA current mode architecture and a robust switch design.
quiescent current from the input source even while For example, an application that requires a maximum
regulating the output. of 1.5A should use an inductor that has an RMS rating
of >1.5A and a saturation current rating of >1.9A. This
High Efficiency Synchonous Operation
flexibility allows the user to avoid oversize inductors for
Replacing an external Schottky diode with an internal applications requiring less than maximum output current.
synchronous power switch not only minimizes the solu-
tion size, but also increases efficiency and reduces power Current Sense and Monitoring with the LT8611
dissipation. The efficiency improvement is significant The LT8611 includes a flexible current control and
in low output voltage applications where the voltage monitor loop using the ISN, ISP, IMON and ICTRL pins.
drop of the Schottky diode represents a relatively large The ISP and ISN pins connect to an external sense
portion of the output voltage. Figure 1 shows a 12V resistor that may be in series with the input or output
to 3.3V circuit. Figure 2 shows the efficiency of this of the LT8611 or in series with other system currents.
circuit reaching 94%, which is 5% to 10% higher than The current limit loop functions by limiting the LT8611
a comparable nonsynchronous circuit. output current such that the voltage between the ISP
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of their respective owners.

100
VIN
VIN BST
3.8V TO 42V 0.1μF
4.7μF EN/UV VO = 5V
L1 95
4.7μH VOUT
EFFICIENCY (%)

PG SW 3.3V
LT8610 C1 2.5A VO = 3.3V
SYNC BIAS 47μF
10nF 90
1M
TR/SS FB
1μF 4.7pF
85
INTVCC
RT PGND GND
L1: HCM0703-4R7, COILTRONICS
60.4k 412k 80
C1: GRM32ER71A476K, MURATA
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
fSW = 700kHz LOAD CURRENT (A)
dn504 F01 dn504 F02

Figure 1. LT8610 12V to 3.3V Application Figure 2. Efficiency of the 12V to 3.3V Application
Achieves High Efficiency (Circuit Shown in Figure 1)

07/12/504
and ISN pins does not exceed 50mV. The ICTRL pin VIN
5.4V TO 42V
VIN BST
4.7μF ON OFF 0.1μF
allows the user to control this limit between 0mV and EN/UV
0.025Ω VOUT
50mV by applying 0V to 1V to the ICTRL pin. The IMON SYNC SW
L1
5V
μP IMON 2A
pin outputs a ground-referenced voltage that is 20 • ISP
3.3μH
ICTRL
(ISP – ISN), which allows easy monitoring and may be OPTIONAL LT8611
ISN

used as an input to an A/D. BIAS

10pF
PG
INTVCC
The LT8611 current sense and monitoring functionality TR/SS
0.1μF 1M
may be used to limit short-circuit current or to create RT
PGND GND
FB
C1
constant-current, constant-voltage (CCCV) supplies. 1μF 18.2k 243k
47μF

Figure 3 shows well controlled current during a short- dn504 F04

circuit event. The LT8611 can also be combined with a

microcontroller with A/D and D/A to create sophisticated Figure 4. LT8611 Running at 2MHz Reduces Solution
power systems. Typical apps include maximum power Size, Avoids AM Band, and Still Allows High Duty Cycle
point tracking (MPPT) for solar charging and program-
Low Dropout Operation
mable LED current source.
As the input voltage decreases toward the programmed
output voltage, the LT8610 and LT8611 maintain regula-
5W tion by skipping switch-off times and decreasing the
20V/DIV
switching frequency up to a maximum duty cycle of
INDUCTOR 99.8%. If the input voltage decreases further, the output
CURRENT
1A/DIV voltage remains 450mV below the input voltage (at 2A
load). The boost capacitor is charged during dropout
dn504 F03
conditions, maintaining high efficiency. Figure 5 shows
the dropout performance.
Figure 3. Short-Circuit Current is Well Regulated at 42V
with the LT8611

IL = 500mA/DIV
Wide Input Range Operation at 2MHz
VIN = 1V/DIV
It is well known that higher switching frequencies allow VO = 1V/DIV

for smaller solution sizes. In fact, a 2MHz switching VSW = 2V/DIV

frequency is often used in automotive applications to

avoid the AM band and minimize solution footprint. dn504 F05

High switching frequencies, though, come with some Figure 5. LT8610/LT8611 Dropout Performance
trade-offs, including reduced ability to handle wide
input voltage range commonly found in automotive Conclusion
and industrial environments. However, the LT8610 and LT8610 and LT8611 are 42V, 2.5A synchronous step-
LT8611 minimize these restrictions by allowing both down regulators that offer 2.5μA quiescent current,
high switching frequencies and high conversion ratios. high efficiency, fault robustness and constant current
This is due to their low minimum on-times (50ns typi- (LT8611 only), constant voltage operation in small
cal) and low dropout, resulting in a wide input range, packages. This combination of features makes them
even at 2MHz. Figure 4 shows a 5V, 2A, 2MHz circuit ideal for the harsh environment commonly found in
that can accept 5.4V to 42V inputs. The circuit has a automotive and industrial applications.
2A output current limit.

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