AN96-5
Load Balance Controller, EZ1900 and
LP2951 + StP8 Regulator
2000 SEMTECH CORP.
652 MITCHELL ROAD NEWBURY PARK CA 91320
August 28, 2000
2
Sense Resistor
The values of the sense resistors do not have to be
controlled to any great degree of precision — it is the
ratio of the two values which is important. As a result,
the sense resistors can be constructed inexpensively
using copper board traces. Any process related errors
in setting the resistors will apply equally to both R
14
&
R
15
. Suitable resistor sizes are given in Table 1.
How To Design a Circuit using the EZ1900
1. Select the maximum current required for each reg-
ulator.
2. From table 1, determine the sense resistor value
required.
3. Determine the trace width required, based on the
copper weight.
4. Determine the trace length required, based on the
copper weight.
5. Design a suitable resistor layout for the board. It is
very likely that the resistor will have to be laid out in
“serpentine” fashion, as shown in figure 2.
6. Keep the two sense resistors as close to each other
and the V
IN
plane as possible.
Setting the Output Voltages
The output of the two regulators can be set to accom-
modate different processor voltage requirements, by
means of setting the values of resistors R
4
and R
11
.
The values are shown in table 2.
The major difference between the LP2951 based circuit
and one using monolithic low dropout regulators such
as the EZ1585D, is that the LP2951 has a ground
based reference circuit. As such, any adjustment made
to the lower resistor in the feedback chain reduces the
output voltage, rather than increasing it, as in EZ158x/
108x circuits.
This necessitates careful attention to phasing require-
ments and also means that the slave feedback resis-
tors must be set to give a high output voltage in mas-
ter/slave mode, to enable the EZ1900 to reduce the ac-
tual output voltage and effect a load balance condition.
Conclusion
The EZ1900 can be used with a low cost LP2951/StP8
Table 1: Copper Trace Sizes for EZ1900 Application Circuit
Copper weight (oz)
Copper weight (oz.)
Current Resistance
Pd
0.5
1
2
3
0.5
1
2
3
(Amps)
(m
)
(mW)
Trace Width (in.)
Trace Length (in.)
1
80.0
80
0.010
0.010
0.010
0.010
0.815
1.629
3.259
4.888
2
40.0
160
0.010
0.010
0.010
0.010
0.407
0.815
1.629
2.444
3
26.7
240
0.015
0.010
0.010
0.010
0.407
0.543
1.086
1.629
4
20.0
320
0.027
0.013
0.010
0.010
0.543
0.543
0.815
1.222
5
16.0
400
0.042
0.021
0.010
0.010
0.679
0.679
0.679
0.679
6
13.3
480
0.060
0.030
0.015
0.010
0.815
0.815
0.815
0.815
7
11.4
560
0.082
0.041
0.020
0.014
0.950
0.950
0.950
0.950
8
10.0
640
0.107
0.053
0.027
0.018
1.086
1.086
1.086
1.086
9
8.9
720
0.135
0.068
0.034
0.023
1.222
1.222
1.222
1.222
10
8.0
800
0.167
0.083
0.042
0.028
1.358
1.358
1.358
1.358
Note: 0.5oz/ft
2
copper is 18μm thick; Copper trace widths based on 1200A
2
/oz.in, which is a conservative rating
for a 40
o
C rise.
R = (0.491 x L)/(B x W)
where R=Trace Resistance (m
);L=Trace Length (in.);B=Copper weight (oz.);W=Trace Width (in.)