
MP1567 – 1.2A SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFIED STEP-DOWN CONVERTER 
MP1567 Rev. 2.3 
1/3/2006 
www.MonolithicPower.com 
6
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 2006 MPS. All Rights Reserved. 
TM
APPLICATION INFORMATION 
COMPONENT SELECTION 
Internal Low-Dropout Regulator 
The internal power to the MP1567 is supplied 
from the input voltage through an internal 2.4V 
low-dropout linear regulator, whose output is 
BP. Bypass BP to SGND with a 10nF or greater 
capacitor to insure the MP1567 operates 
properly. The internal regulator cannot supply 
more current than is required to operate the 
MP1567, therefore do not apply any external 
load to BP. 
Soft-Start 
The MP1567 includes a soft-start timer that 
slowly ramps the output voltage at startup to 
prevent excessive current at the input. This 
prevents premature termination of the battery 
voltage at startup due to input current overshoot 
at startup. 
When power is applied to the MP1567 a 2
μ
A 
internal current source charges the external 
capacitor at SS. As the capacitor charges, the 
voltage at SS will rise. The MP1567 internally 
limits the feedback threshold voltage at FB to 
that of the voltage at SS. This forces the output 
voltage to rise at the same rate as the voltage 
at SS, forcing the output voltage to ramp 
linearly from 0V to the desired regulation 
voltage during soft-start. The soft-start period is 
determined by the equation: 
5
C
45
.
t
SS
×
=
Where C5
(in nF) is the soft-start capacitor from 
SS to GND, and t
SS
 (in ms) is the soft-start 
period. Determine the capacitor required for a 
given soft-start period by the equation: 
SS
t
22
.
5
C
×
=
Use values for C5 between 10nF and 22nF to 
set the soft-start period (between 4ms and 
10ms). 
Setting the Output Voltage 
Set the output voltage by selecting the resistive 
voltage divider ratio. The voltage divider drops 
the output voltage to the 0.9V feedback 
threshold voltage. Use 10k
 for the low-side 
resistor of the voltage divider.  Determine the 
high side resistor by the equation: 
=
1
R
V
V
V
2
R
FB
FB
OUT
Where R2 is the high-side resistor, R1 is the 
low-side resistor, V
OUT
 is the output voltage and 
V
FB
 is the feedback regulation threshold. 
For R1 = 10k
 and V
FB
 = 0.9V, then 
R2(k
) = 11.1k
 (V
OUT
 – 0.9V) 
Selecting the Input Capacitor 
The input current to the step-down converter is 
discontinuous, so a capacitor is required to 
supply the AC current to the step-down 
converter while maintaining the DC input 
voltage. A low ESR capacitor is required to 
keep the noise at the IC to a minimum. Ceramic 
capacitors are preferred, but tantalum or low 
ESR electrolytic capacitors will also suffice. 
Use an input capacitor with a value greater than 
10
μ
F. The capacitor can be electrolytic, 
tantalum or ceramic. However, since it absorbs 
the input switching current it requires an 
adequate ripple current rating. Use a capacitor 
with a RMS current rating greater than 1/2 of 
the DC load current. 
For insuring stable operation, place the input 
capacitor as close to the IC as possible. 
Alternately, a smaller high quality 0.1
μ
F 
ceramic capacitor may be placed closer to the 
IC with the larger capacitor placed further away. 
If using this technique, it is recommended that 
the larger capacitor be a tantalum or electrolytic 
type. All ceramic capacitors should be placed 
close to the MP1567. 
Selecting the Output Capacitor 
The output capacitor is required to maintain the 
DC output voltage. Low ESR capacitors are 
preferred to keep the output voltage ripple to a 
minimum. The characteristics of the output 
capacitor also affect the stability of the 
regulation control system. Ceramic, tantalum or 
low 
ESR 
electrolytic 
recommended. 
capacitors 
are 
In the case of ceramic capacitors, the 
impedance at the switching frequency is 
dominated by the capacitance, and so the