
Product # MQFL-270-12D
Phone 1-888-567-9596
www.synqor.com
Doc.# 005-0005043 Rev. B
02/07/11
Page 14
Output:
Current:
±12V
10A
MQFL-270-12D
Application Section
INPUT OVER-VOLTAGE SHUTDOWN: The MQFL converter
also has an over-voltage feature that ensures the converter will
be off if the input voltage is too high. It also has a hysteresis
and time delay to ensure proper operation.
SHUT DOWN: The MQFL converter will shut down in response
to following conditions:
- ENA1 input low
- ENA2 input low
- VIN input below under-voltage lockout threshold
- VIN input above over-voltage shutdown threshold
- Persistent current limit event lasting more than 1 second
Following a shutdown from a disable event or an input voltage
fault, there is a startup inhibit delay which will prevent the
converter from restarting for approximately 300ms. After the
300ms delay elapses, if the enable inputs are high and the
input voltage is within the operating range, the converter will
restart. If the VIN input is brought down to nearly 0V and back
into the operating range, there is no startup inhibit, and the
output voltage will rise according to the “Turn-On Delay, Rising
Vin” specification.
Refer to the following Current Limit section for details regarding
persistent current limit behavior.
CURRENT LIMIT: The converter will reduce its output voltage
in response to an overload condition, as shown in Figure 12. If
the output voltage drops to below approximately 50% of the
nominal setpoint for longer than 1 second, the auto-restart
feature will engage. The auto-restart feature will stop the
converter from delivering load current, in order to protect
the converter and the load from thermal damage. After four
seconds have elapsed, the converter will automatically restart.
In a system with multiple converters configured for load
sharing using the SHARE pin, if the auto-restart feature
engages, the converters will synchronize their restart using
signals communicated on the SHARE pin.
BACK-DRIVE CURRENT LIMIT:
Converters that use
MOSFETs as synchronous rectifiers are capable of drawing a
negative current from the load if the load is a source of short-
or long-term energy. This negative current is referred to as a
“back-drive current”.
Conditions where back-drive current might occur include
paralleled converters that do not employ current sharing, or
where the current share feature does not adequately ensure
sharing during the startup or shutdown transitions. It can also
occur when converters having different output voltages are
connected together through either explicit or parasitic diodes
that, while normally off, become conductive during startup or
shutdown. Finally, some loads, such as motors, can return
energy to their power rail. Even a load capacitor is a source of
back-drive energy for some period of time during a shutdown
transient.
To avoid any problems that might arise due to back-drive
current, the MQFL converters limit the negative current that the
converter can draw from its output terminals. The threshold
for this back-drive current limit is placed sufficiently below zero
so that the converter may operate properly down to zero load,
but its absolute value (see the Electrical Characteristics page)
is small compared to the converter’s rated output current.
INPUT SYSTEM INSTABILITY: This condition can occur
because any dc-dc converter appears incrementally as a
negative resistance load. A detailed application note titled
“Input System Instability” is available on the SynQor website
which provides an understanding of why this instability arises,
and shows the preferred solution for correcting it.
THERMAL CONSIDERTAIONS: Figure 11 shows the
suggested Power Derating Curves for this converter as a
function of the case temperature and the maximum desired
power MOSFET junction temperature. All other components
within the converter are cooler than its hottest MOSFET,
which at full power is no more than 20C higher than the case
temperature directly below this MOSFET.
The Mil-HDBK-1547A component derating guideline calls for
a maximum component temperature of 105C. Figure 11
therefore has one power derating curve that ensures this limit
is maintained. It has been SynQor’s extensive experience that
reliable long-term converter operation can be achieved with
a maximum component temperature of 125C. In extreme
cases, a maximum temperature of 145C is permissible, but not
recommended for long-term operation where high reliability is
required. Derating curves for these higher temperature limits
are also included in Figure 11. The maximum case temperature
at which the converter should be operated is 135C.
When the converter is mounted on a metal plate, the plate will
help to make the converter’s case bottom a uniform temperature.
How well it does so depends on the thickness of the plate and
on the thermal conductance of the interface layer (e.g. thermal
grease, thermal pad, etc.) between the case and the plate.
Unless this is done very well, it is important not to mistake the
plate’s temperature for the maximum case temperature. It is
easy for them to be as much as 5-10C different at full power
and at high temperatures. It is suggested that a thermocouple
be attached directly to the converter’s case through a small
hole in the plate when investigating how hot the converter
is getting. Care must also be made to ensure that there is
not a large thermal resistance between the thermocouple and
the case due to whatever adhesive might be used to hold the
thermocouple in place.