NCP5306
http://onsemi.com
11
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
Overview
The NCP5306 DC/DC controller from ON Semiconductor
was developed using the Enhanced V
2
topology. Enhanced
V
2
combines the original V
2
topology with peak
current
mode control for fast transient response and current
sensing capability. The addition of an internal PWM ramp
and implementation of fast
feedback directly from Vcore
has improved transient response and simplified design. The
NCP5306 includes Power Good (PWRGD), providing a
highly integrated solution to simplify design, minimize
circuit board area, and reduce overall system cost.
Two advantages of a multi
phase converter over a
single
phase converter are current sharing and increased
apparent output frequency. Current sharing allows the designer
to use less inductance in each phase than would be required in
a single
phase converter. The smaller inductor will produce
larger ripple currents but the total per
phase power dissipation
is reduced because the RMS current is lower. Transient
response is improved because the control loop will measure
and adjust the current faster in a smaller output inductor.
Increased apparent output frequency is desirable because the
off
time and the ripple voltage of the multi
phase converter
will be less than that of a single
phase converter.
Fixed Frequency Multi
Phase Control
In a multi
phase converter, multiple converters are
connected in parallel and are switched on at different times.
This reduces output current from the individual converters
and increases the apparent ripple frequency. Because several
converters are connected in parallel, output current can ramp
up or down faster than a single converter (with the same
value output inductor) and heat is spread among multiple
components.
The NCP5306 controller uses three
phase, fixed
frequency,
Enhanced V
2
architecture to measure and control currents in
individual phases. Each phase is delayed 120
°
from the
previous phase. Normally, GATEx transitions to a high
voltage at the beginning of each oscillator cycle. Inductor
current ramps up until the combination of the current sense
signal, the internal ramp and the output voltage ripple trip
the PWM comparator and bring GATEx low. Once GATEx
goes low, it will remain low until the beginning of the next
oscillator cycle. While GATEx is high, the Enhanced V
2
loop will respond to line and load variations. On the other
hand, once GATEx is low, the loop cannot respond until the
beginning of the next PWM cycle. Therefore, constant
frequency Enhanced V
2
will typically respond to
disturbances within the off
time of the converter.
The Enhanced V
2
architecture measures and adjusts the
output current in each phase. An additional input (CSx) for
inductor current information has been added to the V
2
loop
for each phase as shown in Figure 14. The triangular
inductor current is measured differentially across RS,
amplified by CSA and summed with the channel startup
offset, the internal ramp and the output voltage at the
non
inverting input of the PWM comparator. The purpose
of the internal ramp is to compensate for propagation delays
in the NCP5306. This provides greater design flexibility by
allowing smaller external ramps, lower minimum pulse
widths, higher frequency operation and PWM duty cycles
above 50% without external slope compensation. As the
sum of the inductor current and the internal ramp increase,
the voltage on the positive pin of the PWM comparator rises
and terminates the PWM cycle. If the inductor starts a cycle
with higher current, the PWM cycle will terminate earlier
providing negative feedback. The NCP5306 provides a CSx
input for each phase, but the CS
REF
and COMP inputs are
common to all phases. Current sharing is accomplished by
referencing all phases to the same CS
REF
and COMP pins,
so that a phase with a larger current signal will turn off earlier
than a phase with a smaller current signal.
Figure 14. Enhanced V
2
Control Employing Resistive Current Sensing and Internal Ramp
+
CSA
SWNODE
Lx
RLx
RSx
CSx
COx
CS
REF
+
V
OUT
(V
CORE
)
+
“Fast
Feedback”
Connection
+
PWM
COMP
To F/F
Reset
Channel
Start
Up
Offset
+
E.A.
DAC
Out
V
FB
COMP
Internal Ramp
+
x = 1, 2 or 3
C
AMP