
M
Quick-PWM Slave Controllers for
Multiphase, Step-Down Supplies
______________________________________________________________________________________
11
Detailed Description
The MAX1887/MAX1897 step-down slave controllers
are intended for low-voltage, high-current, multiphase
DC-to-DC applications. The MAX1887/MAX1897 slave
controllers can be combined with any of Maxim
’
s
Quick-PWM step-down controllers to form a multiphase
DC-to-DC converter. When compared to single-phase
operation, multiphase conversion lowers the peak
inductor current by distributing the load current
between parallel power paths. This simplifies compo-
nent selection, power distribution to the load, and ther-
mal layout. Existing Quick-PWM controllers, such as the
MAX1718, function as the master controller, providing
accurate output voltage regulation, fast transient
response, and multiple fault protection features.
Synchronized to the master
’
s low-side gate driver, the
MAX1887/MAX1897 include a constant on-time con-
troller, synchronous rectifier gate drive, active current
balancing, and precision current-limit circuitry.
On-Time Control and Active
Current Balancing
The MAX1887/MAX1897 slave controller uses a con-
stant on-time, voltage feed-forward architecture similar
to Maxim
’
s Quick-PWM controllers (Figure 2). The con-
trol algorithm is simple: the high-side switch on-time is
determined solely by a one-shot whose period is
inversely proportional to input voltage and directly pro-
portional to the compensation voltage (V
COMP
).
Another one-shot sets a minimum off-time (130ns typi-
cal). The on-time one-shot is triggered when the follow-
ing conditions are satisfied: The slave detects a
Pin Description (continued)
PIN
MAX1887
MAX1897
NAME
DESCRIPTION
12
14
DH
High-Side Gate-Driver Output. DH swings from LX to BST.
13
15
LX
Inductor Connection. Connect LX to the switched side of the inductor. LX serves as
the lower supply rail for the DH high-side gate driver.
Boost Flying-Capacitor Connection. Connect to an external capacitor and diode
according to the
Standard Application Circuit
(Figure 1). An optional resistor in
series with BST allows DH pullup current to be adjusted.
Battery Voltage Sense Connection. Connect V+ to the input power source. V+ is
used only for PWM one-shot timing (see the
On-Time Control and Active Current
Balancing
section).
14
16
BST
15
17
V+
16
18
LIMIT
Op en- D ai n C ur ent- Li m Outp ut. C onnect to the m aster contr ol er
’
s ad ustab e cur ent-
l m i np ut ( LIM accor d ng to the
S and ar d Ap p cati on C cui
( Fi g ur e 1) When the
vol ag e acr oss the m aster contr ol er
’
s cur ent- sense r esi stor ( V
C M +
- V
C M
) exceed s the
cur ent- m thr eshol d ( V
ILI M
/10) the M AX 1887/M AX 1897 p ul s LIM T l ow
Table 1. Component Selection for Standard
Applications
COMPONENT
Output Voltage
Input Voltage Range
Maximum Load Current
CIRCUIT OF FIGURE 1
0.6V to 1.75V
7V to 24V
40A
Inductor (each phase)
0.6μH
Sumida CDEP134H-0R6 or
Panasonic ETQP6F0R6BFA
Frequency
300kHz (TON = float)
High-Side MOSFET
(N
H
, each phase)
International Rectifier
(2) IRF7811W
Low-Side MOSFET
(N
L
, each phase)
International Rectifier
(2) IRF7822 or
Fairchild (3) FDS7764A or
Input Capacitor (C
IN
)
(6) 10μF 25V
Taiyo Yuden
TMK432BJ106KM or
TDK C4532X5R1E106M
Output Capacitor (C
OUT
)
(8) 270μF 2V
Panasonic EEFUE0E271R
Current-Sense Resistors
(R
CS
and R
CM
)
1.5m
Voltage Positioning Gain
(A
VPS
)
2