
MP2108 – 2A, 6V, 740KHz SYNCHRONOUS BUCK CONVERTER 
MP2108 Rev 1.1 
10/2/2006 
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8
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rate as the voltage at SS, forcing a linear  
output voltage ramp 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 (see Figure 2) 
Set the output voltage by selecting the resistive 
voltage divider ratio. The voltage divider drops 
the output voltage to the 0.9V feedback voltage. 
Use 10k
 for the low-side resistor of the 
voltage divider. Determine the high-side resistor 
by the equation: 
1
R
1
V
9
V
2
R
OUT
×
=
Where R2 is the high-side resistor, R1 is the 
low-side resistor and V
OUT
 is the output voltage. 
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 are also an option. 
The capacitor can be electrolytic, tantalum or 
ceramic. Because it absorbs the input switching 
current, it must have an adequate ripple current 
rating. Use a capacitor with RMS current rating 
greater than 1/2 of the DC load current. 
For stable operation, place the input capacitor 
as close to the IC as possible. A smaller high 
quality 0.1μF 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 IC. For most applications, a 10
μ
F 
ceramic capacitor will work. 
Selecting the Output Capacitor 
The output capacitor (C2) 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 
tantalum, or low ESR electrolytic capacitors are 
recommended. 
system. 
Ceramic, 
The output voltage ripple is: 
×
×
+
×
×
×
=
2
C
f
8
1
R
V
V
1
L
f
V
V
SW
ESR
IN
OUT
SW
OUT
RIPPLE
Where V
RIPPLE
 is the output voltage ripple, f
SW
 is 
the switching frequency, V
IN
 is the input voltage 
and R
ESR
 is the equivalent series resistance of 
the output capacitors. 
Choose an output capacitor to satisfy the output 
ripple requirements of the design. A 22μF 
ceramic 
capacitor 
is 
applications. 
suitable 
for 
most 
Selecting the Inductor 
The inductor is required to supply constant 
current to the output load while being driven by 
the switched input voltage. A larger value 
inductor results in less ripple current that in turn 
results in lower output ripple voltage. However, 
the larger value inductor is likely to have a 
larger 
physical 
size 
resistance. Choose an inductor that does not 
saturate under the worst-case load conditions. 
A good rule for determining the inductance is to 
allow peak-to-peak ripple current to be 
approximately 30% to 40% of the maximum 
load current. Make sure that the peak inductor 
current (the load current plus half the peak-to-
peak inductor ripple current) is below 2.5A to 
prevent loss of regulation due to the current 
limit.  
and 
higher 
series