DC/DC conversion Cookbook

A simple step by step guide to select the most appropriate

voltage regulator for your application

Piercarlo Scimonelli

Presentation outline

What you need to know, to discuss intelligently

Checklist and Selection Procedure

Examples / ST products

Voltage Regulators
A Voltage Regulator keeps a constant Output Voltage with varying:

Output current
load regulation
Input voltage
line regulation

Input Voltage
(Vin)

Voltage
Regulator

Output Voltage
(Vout)

Output Current
(Iout)

The three most important parameters: Vin, Vout, Iout

3

Ideal Voltage Regulator V-I Characteristic

Vout

Iout

Voltage Regulator simplified block diagram

Voltage regulators operate by comparing the output voltage to an

internal fixed reference. The difference is amplified and used to control
the output voltage. This is what we call a closed-loop feedback.

Classification of power switching topologies

Source: APPLICATION BRIEF 0014 (N.Siciliano)

6

Step down Converter (Buck)

IL

SW1

ISW1
TON

Io
SW2

ISW2

IL

VO
V IN

T ON
T

Io

Vsw
Vo

TON

Closing the loop Voltage Mode

sawtooth
VC

DTs
Ts

Closed Loop Feedback (Voltage Mode)

L597x
L598x
L798x

Closing the loop Current Mode

L

RSEN

Slope comp

Ki

Vin
PWM

Error OpAmp output (Vc)

Vo
Inductor

Co

current signal
iL signal
Slope

R2
Compensation

VFB

Network

R1
Comparator

vc

DTs
Ts

Error

Vref

Op-Amp

Closed Loop Feedback (Current Mode)

ST1Sx
L692x

Power dissipation in Voltage Regulators

1)

Power dissipated when the switches are closed (conduction losses):

PON = IOUT2 x (RDSONHS x D + RDSONLS x (1-D) + RL)

2)

Power dissipated during the commutations (switching losses):

PSW = VIN x IOUT x FSW x (TON + TOFF)/2

3)

Power dissipated when the device is not switching:

PQ = VIN x IQ

Power dissipated in a linear regulator:

PD = (VIN-VOUT) x IOUT + VIN x IQ

Example: low Iq regulators in powering STM32

Current consumption:
Depends on operating mode
Decreases at lower VDD
Inreases with temperature
Increases with clock speed

STM32L Vcc: 1.8V to 3.6V, Icc: 1uA to 100mA

Supply current in standby is the same order of magnitude as the quiescent current
of voltage regulators

STLQ015

150mA, Ultra Low Quiescent Current LDO regulator

Input Voltage from 1.5V to 5.5V

Ultra Low Quiescent Current:

Fixed VOUT: 0.8V to 3.3V

Excellent load transient response
Stable with low ESR, SMD ceramic caps

1.0 A (typ) at no load

1 nA (typ) in OFF mode

SOT666-6L (1.2x1.6mm)

Switching Frequency Impact

Performance

Efficiency
Thermal
Output Voltage Ripple
Dynamic Performance
Board space availability

(needs low frequency)

(needs low frequency)
(needs high frequency)
(need high frequency)
(needs high frequency)

Typical cases:

~100kHz
To maximize
efficiency (Energy
harvesting) SPV1040

250-500KHz
High voltage buck
regulators
(Industrial/Autom
otive)
L7985, L7986,
PM668x

600KHz-1MHz
Cost/performance
trade-off
(Consumer/Compu
ter)
ST1S40, L6738

1MHz-3MHz
Portable
applications / size
constraints
(Trade off between
board space and
efficiency)
ST1S31/32,
STBB1, STLA02

3MHz up to
6MHz
Extreme board
space
constraints
(Portable
Fitness, Smart
phones/tablets)
STBB2,
ST1S15

PFM vs. PWM switching control

PWM (pulse-width modulation)
.
Advantage:

Low noise and better EMI control due to constant switching

frequency (easy to filter out);
Disadvantage:

Lower power efficiency at light load (because of swithing losses)

PFM (pulse-frequency modulation)

PFM

Advantages:

High power efficiency over a wide range of load.

Disadvantages:

Variable sw frequency (Noise and EMI);

Higher output voltage ripple

High efficiency at light load: L6925/6/8

Step-down switching regulators

Differentiating functions:
VIN : 2V 5.5V (2.7V 5.5V for L6925)
L6925: LBI & LBO, UVLO @ 2.7V
VOUT: adjustable 0.6V VIN (100% DC)
L6926/L6928: PGOOD & RUN
1% output voltage accuracy
IOUT up to 800mA
25uA quiescent current
Selectable Low noise or low consumption mode (PWM/PFM)
Freq.: 600KHz, synchronizable up to 1.4 MHz (L6925/6)
Freq.: 1.4MHz synchronizable up to 2 MHz (L6928)
Current Mode Control
L6925
Thermal shut down (150C)

15

L6928 low noise or low power (burst) mode

Burst mode
High efficiency

Low noise
Forced PWM
Vin 4.2V
Vout 1.5V
Iout 30mA
Cin/Cout 10uF
Rc 20Kohm
Cc 330pF
16

Switching regulator selection based on output current

HS1

Switching Converter: internal mosfet(s), up to 5A load, compact

LS1

HS1
LS1

Single Output Switching Controller: external mosfets, up to

30A load, very high efficiency

HS1
LS1

Multi-Output Controller or Converter

Compactness

HS2
LS2

HS1
LS1

HS2
LS2

Multiphase controller
Load higher than 30A
High efficiency, low ripple, fast
transient response, small i/o filters

Switching Regulator vs. Linear Voltage Regulator

Linear Regulator:
No inductor
MOSFET or Bipolar pass element
<500mA typ, up to 7A
Low noise, low efficiency

LDO: Low Drop-Out (voltage regulator)

The drop-out voltage is the minimum voltage across the regulator to maintain regulation
Vout

Standard Linear
Regulators
(L78xx, LM317)
Vdrop >2V

Vin - Vout

Vout
Vin

Semi Low-Drop
(LD1117/LD108x)
Vdrop 0.8V-1.5V

Vin - Vout

Vout
Very Low-Drop
(LFxx/LD29xxx)
Vdrop 0.2V-0.7V

Vin
Vin - Vout

Vout
Vin

Vin - Vout

Vout

Ultra
LDO (LD39xxx)
Vdrop <0.2V

Minimum Power dissipation

Vin

Vin

Load Transient Response

VOUT
AC coupled
100mV/div

IL
0.5A/div

COUT=47uF
L=6.8uH
FSW=500kHz

Timescale
100us/div

VIN=12V, VOUT=3.3V, SRILOAD=2.5A/us

STLQ015 Load Transient

Load Transient Response
VIN=5.5V CIN=1F, COUT=10F, IOUT= from 1A to 10mA
Static Load Regulation

Vout
Load Transient response
Tradeoff between:
BW of Error Amplifier
vs.
Power consumption

Iout

Soft-Start

L598x

SRVREF

Staircase ramp on internal VREF

64 steps, 9mV each step
32 clock cycles each step

0.6 FSW
2048

SRVOUT

SRVREF

R1
R2

Synchronous rectification vs. non-synchronous

12V Vin
3.3V Vout
3A Iout

ST1S10

L7981
23

Synchronous rectification vs. non-synchronous

L7981

Is a synchr. converter
always more efficient
than a non-synchr?

ST1S10

24

Application requirements in a DC/DC conversion - summary

Input Voltage (VIN)

Output Voltage (VOUT)
Output DC current (IOUT)
Power Conversion Efficiency: a measure of power losses
smaller package
and longer battery life
Switching frequency: ON/OFF time of power switch
Impacts size of external
components and efficiency
Quiescent Current (Iq): required to power internal circuitry
Impact on light
load efficiency
Package Thermal Resistance Rth: ability to dissipate heat
impact on board
space and robust thermal design
Switching control (PWM PFM): noise vs. efficiency at light load
Feedback loop (Voltage Mode vs. Current Mode)

The best device

is that which fits
the application

DC/DC Selection Procedure Summary

From Vin and Vout, select the topology (step-up, step down, buck-boost)
Based on the output current and efficiency, choose between controller (ext.
FETs), converter (int. FETs) or Linear
Select the device starting from the input voltage spec and max DC current
(if integrated FETs) to meet the application requirements of input voltage
range and load
Consider any other design constraint: operating temperature range,
switching frequency, quiescent current, light load efficiency,
synchronization, board space, transient response, power good, soft start,
output ripple etc etc
Always ask what is key to the application
26

DC-DC Conversion Portfolio

27

Linear Voltage Regulators

Low Drop Out (LDOs)

Battery & Power Management

PMICs

Shunt Voltage Ref.

ASSP
Switching Controllers (ext. FETs)
Switching Converters (int. FET)

Single and Multi output

& LED drivers

Single and Multi phase

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

ASICs

Switching Converter segmentation

28

Non synchronous, high Vin

ST1S14, L798x, L597x, L598x

Consumer Value Line

12V Vin, 3-4A, synchr.
ST1S40, ST1S41

Synchronous, high

at light load

Automotive Grade, high Vin

PMxx, ST1Sxx, L692x

A597x, A798x

Battery powered applications

High performance, 3-5A synchr.

L692x, PM6644, ST1S1x

PM8903, ST1S31/2, L5988/89

Continuous output current from 350mA to 4A

Wide range of max input voltage: 5V TO 60V

SOT23, Q/DFN3x3 and 4x4mm, HSO8, and TSSOP

Step Down Converters First buying choice

60

L4976

L4973

L4978

L4971

Synchronuos
ST1S14

MAXIMUM OPERATING INPUT VOLTAGE

50

NON-Synchronous
L7986

L7985

40

L5970

L5972/3A

L5974/5A

L5973/4A

Synchr. high

at light load

L5975

PGood
L6902

30

L7980

PM6644

L5980

20

L5981

L5983

L5985/45

L5986

L7981

L5987/47

ST1S10

ST1S41

L5988/89

ST1S40

ST1S03

10

ST2S06

ST1S15

ST2S08

ST1S12

ST1S03A

L6925/6/8

PM8903

ST1S09

ST1S06

ST1S32

ST1S31

ST1S30

MAXIMUM OUTPUT CURRENT

L7985-L7986
2-3A output current in QFN3x3-10L and HSOP8 packages
P-channel power MOS: 100% DC operation and no bootstrap capacitor
High switching frequency (250KHz, adjustable up to 1MHz) with

Synchronization capability (180 out of phase)

Wide input voltage range (4.5V up to 38V)
200ns minimum Ton
Internal Soft-start
QFN10 3x3
Enable pin
Embedded protection features
Suitable for MLCC output filter
Typ RDSon=150m

QFN 3x3 10L - Rth j-amb 60 C/W

HSO8 - Rth j-amb 40 C/W

HSOP8

L7986/A
L7985/A

3A / up to 1MHz

2A / up to 1MHz

ST1S40/41

Switching Frequency: 800kHz

Continuous output Current Capability: 3/4A
4/5A peak current limit
Output Voltage: Adjustable from 0.8V
Operating Input voltage 4V to 18V
Ceramic Capacitors and small Inductor
Soft-Start integrated circuit
Integrated 69mOhm Low side RDSon
Integrated 95mOhm High side RDSon
Efficiency: up to 95%
Enable pin or Power Good
SO8, HSOP8 and MLP4x4 packages
Pin-to-pin with ST1S10
SO-8

ST1S41
DFN 8L
4x4mm

ST1S40

4A / 850kHz
3A / 800kHz

HSOP-8

Package

Output
Current

Commercial Code

SO8

3A

ST1S40IDR

SO8-BW

3A

ST1S40IPHR

DFN4x4 8L

3A

ST1S40IPUR

DFN4x4 8L

4A

ST1S41PUR

HSOP8

4A

ST1S41PHR

PM6644
350mA step down and 3.3V voltage reference

4.5V to 25V input voltage range (35V AMR)

Vout: fixed 3.465V or adjustable 0.9V to 8V
350mA valley current limit
Constant On-Time Control
Progr. switching frequency in PWM mode
Pulse skipping mode at light load
Latched OVP and UVP
High accuracy (0.6%) 3.3V reference

32

LDO Positioning (500mA)

Semi-low drop 0.8V<VDROP<1.7V

30

Very-low drop 0.2V<VDROP<0.7V

ST715

Ultra-low drop VDROP<0.2V

MAXIMUM OPERATING INPUT VOLTAGE

25
L4931
KFxx

20
LD2980

LD2979
LD2985

LD2981

AG

LFxx

15

LDFMxx

LK112

10
STLQ50

LD3985

0
0

100

LK112S
LD39115
LD39015
LD59015
LDCL015
LDLN015
STLQ015
LDK115
LDK120

200

LDS3985

LD39030
LD39130

LD39050

LD3980

300

400

500

MINIMUM GUARANTEED OUTPUT CURRENT

P. Scimonelli - APM Jun 2011

600

LDO Positioning (500mA)

35
L4940
LD1086

L4941

LD1085

MAXIMUM OPERATING INPUT VOLTAGE

30
Semi-low drop 0.8V<VDROP<1.7V

25

Very-low drop 0.2V<VDROP<0.7V

KFxx

20

Ultra-low drop VDROP<0.2V

LDFMxx
LD1117A

LD1117

LFxx

AG

15
LDFMxx
LD29080

10

LD39080

ST1L02
ST1L04

LD29150

LD29300

LD39150

LD39300

5
LD39100

LD39050

ST1L05

LD49150

LD49300

0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

MINIMUM GUARANTEED OUTPUT CURRENT

P. Scimonelli - APM Jun 2011

3500

LDOs in portable applications

LD39015J: 150mA - CSP4 bumps 1x1mm2
LD39115J: 150mA - CSP4 bumps 0.8x0.8mm2
LD39030SJ : 300mA, Soft-Start - CSP4 bumps 0.8x0.8mm2

LD59015: 150mA, Very High PSRR, SC70

LDCL015: 150mA Capless, SOT23
LDLN015: 150mA Very Low Noise, DFN2x2
LD39130: 300mA - CSP4 bumps 0.69x0.69mm2 and DFN 1.2x1.3

35

DC/DC conversion for 5V Vin or lower

Voltage Regulation & Battery Chargers
STBB1 Buck boost
STLQ015 1.7uA Iq, 150mA Iout, LDO
STLQ50 3 A Iq, 50 mA Iout, LDO
LD39015/LD39115 Low noise, 150 mA Iout, on/off
L6924D Lithium battery charger
STW4102 Lithium Battery charger
L6920D 1 A step-up, low Iq, down to 0.6 Vin
L6928 Sync step-down, 95 % 2-5.5 Vin
ST1S15 - 500mA, 6MHz, high efficiency buck
PM6644 - 350mA, high efficiency buck + 3.3V Vref
SPV1040 boost with MPPT for solar battery chargers
LMV4041- 1.2V Vref with 0.1% accuracy in SC70

Display drivers
STLA02 (6 LED backlight driver)
STLED25 (2x5 LED backlight driver)
STP2/4CMP (2/4 ch charge pump)
STODxx (AMOLED)

DC/DC conversion for 12V Vin

CONVERTERS (Int.FETs)

Consumer
Computer
Anything powered off your friendly wall wart
CONTROLLERS (Ext.FETs)
Part Number

VINPUT/VOUT range

FSW

features

Package

L6726A, L6727

Up to 19V VINPUT,
0.8V min VOUT

270/300khZ

EN, SS, OCP, OVP, UVP

SO8

L6728

Up to 13,2V (15V ABS) VINPUT,

0.8V min VOUT

300/600KHz

EN, SS, OVP, OCP, PGOOD

DFN10
SO16N
HTSSOP16
QFN24 4x4
HTSSOP20

QFN16 3x3

L6725, L6730
L6731, L6732

4.5V to 14V VINPUT,

0.6V min VOUT

Up to 1MHz

OVP(Latch - No Latch), UVP, OCP (CC or HICCUP),

PGOOD (with adj. delay) , SS (Sink - No Sink), IHN, Ext
or Internal REF, Adj UVLO, SYNC., Sink- No sink cap.

L6738

Up to 19V VINPUT,
0.8V min VOUT

Adj.

EN, SS, OVP, OCP, PGOOD, differential CS &

GREEN low power mode

DC/DC conversion for 24V to 55V Vin

CONTROLLERS (Ext.FETs)
PN

VOUT #
(SW +LDO)

VOUTSW
1

VOUTSW
2

VOUTS
W 3

VOUTLDO(S)

ILDO

VIN range

package

PM6670/A

1+1

Adj.

VINLDO/2

2A

Up to 28V /36V

QFN 4x4

PM6675/A

1+1

Adj.

Adj.

2A

Up to 28V/36V

QFN 4x4

PM6680/A

2+1

Adj.

Adj.

5V

200mA

Up to 28V/36V

QFN 5x5

PM6681/86

2+1

Adj.

Adj.

Adj.

100mA

Up to 28V

QFN 5x5

PM6685

2+2

3.3V

5V

(1)3.3V + (2)5V

100mA

up to 28V

QFN 5x5

CONVERTERS (Int.FETs)

Industrial Applications
Printers
Automotive/Marine battery
Powered applications

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Presentation Title

46

25/04/2012

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