
9
EL7563C
Monolithic 4 Amp DC:DC Buck Converter
EL
7563C
Applications Information
Circuit Description
General
The EL7563C is a fixed frequency, current mode con-
trolled DC:DC converter with integrated N-channel
power MOSFETs and a high precision reference. The
device incorporates all the active circuitry required to
implement a cost effective, user-programmable 4A syn-
chronous buck converter suitable for use in DSP core
power supplies. By combining fused-lead packaging
technology with an efficient synchronous switching
architecture, high power output (10W) can be realized
without the use of discrete external heat sinks.
Theory of Operation
The EL7563C is composed of 8 major blocks:
1. PWM Controller
2. NMOS Power FETs and Drive Circuitry
3. Bandgap Reference
4. Oscillator
5. Temperature Sensor
6. Power Good and Power On Reset
7. Power Share
8. Auxiliary Supply Tracking
PWM Controller
The EL7563C regulates output voltage through the use
of current-mode controlled pulse width modulation. The
three main elements in a PWM controller are the feed-
back loop and reference, a pulse width modulator whose
duty cycle is controlled by the feedback error signal, and
a filter which averages the logic level modulator output.
In a step-down (buck) converter, the feedback loop
forces the time-averaged output of the modulator to
equal the desired output voltage. Unlike pure voltage-
mode control systems, current-mode control utilizes
dual feedback loops to provide both output voltage and
inductor current information to the controller. The volt-
age loop minimizes DC and transient errors in the output
voltage by adjusting the PWM duty-cycle in response to
changes in line or load conditions. Since the output volt-
age is equal to the time-averaged of the modulator
output, the relatively large LC time constant found in
power supply applications generally results in low band-
wi dt h and poor tr ansient response. By directly
monitoring changes in inductor current via a series sense
resistor the controller’s response time is not entirely lim-
ited by the output LC filter and can react more quickly to
changes in line and load conditions. This feed-forward
characteristic also simplifies AC loop compensation
since it adds a zero to the overall loop response. Through
proper selection of the current-feedback to voltage-feed-
back ratio the overall loop response will approach a one-
pole system. The resulting system offers several advan-
tages over traditional voltage control systems, including
simpler loop compensation, pulse by pulse current limit-
ing, rapid response to line variation and good load step
response.
The heart of the controller is a quadruple input direct
summing comparator which sum voltage feedback, cur-
rent feedback, slope compensation ramp and power
share signals together. Slope compensation is required to
prevent system instability that occurs in current-mode
topologies operating at duty-cycles greater than 50%
and is also used to define the open-loop gain of the over-
all system. The slope compensation is fixed internally
and optimized for 500mA inductor ripple current. The
power share will not contribute any input to the compar-
ator in single module application. In multiple module
applications, the power share will give an input which is
a function of it’s own power dissipation. Each compara-
tor input is weighted and determines the load and line
regulation characteristics of the system. Current feed-
back is measured by the patented sensing scheme that
senses the inductor current flowing through the high-
side switch whenever it is conducting. At the beginning
of each oscillator period the high-side NMOS switch is
turned on. The comparator inputs are gated off for a
minimum period of time (LEB) after the high-side
switch is turned on to allow the system to settle. The
Leading Edge Blanking (LEB) period prevents the
detection of erroneous voltages at the comparator inputs
due to switching noise. When selecting low regulator
output voltages the LEB delay will limit the maximum
operating frequency of the circuit since the LEB will