
MP1580 – 2A, 380KHz STEP-DOWN CONVERTER
MP1580 Rev. 3.0
12/5/2005
www.MonolithicPower.com
7
MPS Proprietary Information. Unauthorized Photocopy and Duplication Prohibited.
2005 MPS. All Rights Reserved.
TM
Compensation
The system stability is controlled through the
COMP pin. COMP is the output of the internal
transconductance error amplifier. A series
capacitor-resistor combination sets a pole-zero
combination to control the characteristics of the
control system.
The DC loop gain is:
OUT
V
FB
VEA
CS
LOAD
VDC
V
A
G
R
A
×
×
×
=
Where A
VEA
is the transconductance error
amplifier voltage gain, 400 V/V, G
CS
is the
current sense gain, (roughly the output current
divided by the voltage at COMP), 1.95 A/V and
R
LOAD
is the load resistance (V
OUT
/ I
OUT
where
I
OUT
is the output load current).
The system has 2 poles of importance, one is
due to the compensation capacitor (C3), and
the other is due to the output capacitor (C2).
These are:
VEA
EA
3
1
P
A
C
2
G
f
×
×
π
=
Where P1 is the first pole and G
EA
is the error
amplifier transconductance (770
μ
A/V).
and
LOAD
2
P
R
2
C
2
1
×
f
×
π
=
The system has one zero of importance, due to
the compensation capacitor (C3) and the
compensation resistor (R3). The zero is:
3
R
3
C
2
1
f
1
Z
×
×
π
=
If a large value capacitor (C2) with relatively
high equivalent-series-resistance (ESR) is
used, the zero due to the capacitance and ESR
of the output capacitor can be compensated by
a third pole set by R3 and C6. The pole is:
3
R
6
C
2
1
f
3
P
×
×
π
=
The system crossover frequency (the frequency
where the loop gain drops to 1, or 0dB) is
important. A good rule of thumb is to set the
crossover frequency to approximately 1/10 of
the switching frequency.
In this case, the switching frequency is 380KHz,
so use a crossover frequency, f
C
, of 40KHz.
Lower crossover frequencies result in slower
response and worse transient load recovery.
Higher crossover frequencies can result in
instability.
Choosing the Compensation Components
The values of the compensation components
given in Table 4 yield a stable control loop for
the output voltage and capacitor given.
Table 4—Compensation Values for Typical
Output Voltage/Capacitor Combinations
V
OUT
2.5V
3.3V
5V
12V
C2
R3
7.5k
2.2nF
10k
15k
33k
C3
C6
None
None
None
None
22μF Ceramic
22μF Ceramic
22μF Ceramic
22μF Ceramic
560μF/6.3V
(30m
ESR)
560μF/6.3V
(30m
ESR)
470μF/10V
(30m
ESR)
220μF/25V
(30m
ESR)
2nF
1.2nF
1nF
2.5V
200k
1nF
100pF
3.3V
200k
1nF
82pF
5V
250k
1nF
56pF
12V
250k
1nF
27pF
To optimize the compensation components for
conditions not listed in Table 4, use the
following procedure:
Choose the compensation resistor to set the
desired crossover frequency. Determine the
value by the following equation:
FB
OUT
V
CS
EA
C
V
G
G
f
2
C
×
2
3
R
×
×
×
π
=
Putting in the known constants and setting the
crossover frequency to the desired 40KHz:
OUT
V
8
2
C
10
37
.
3
R
×
×
×
≈
Choose the compensation capacitor to set the
zero below of the crossover frequency.
Determine the value by the following equation:
3
R
V
2
C
22
.
3
C
OUT
×
×
>