
TCV7100F
2008-06-10
7
Output Capacitor Selection
Use a low-ESR electrolytic or ceramic capacitor as the output filter capacitor. Since a capacitor is generally
sensitive to temperature, choose one with excellent temperature characteristics. As a rule of thumb, its
capacitance should be 30
μF or greater for applications where VOUT ≥ 2 V, and 60 μF or greater for applications
where VOUT < 2 V. The capacitance should be set to an optimal value that meets the system’s ripple voltage
requirement and transient load response characteristics. Since the ceramic capacitor has a very low ESR value,
it helps reduce the output ripple voltage; however, because the ceramic capacitor provides less phase margin, it
should be thoroughly evaluated.
Output filter capacitors with a smaller value mentioned above can be used by adding a phase compensation
circuit to the VFB pin. For example, suppose using two 10-μF ceramic capacitors as output filter capacitors; then
the phase compensation circuit should be programmed as follows:
CP1 (μF) = 2 / RFB1 (Ω) (4)
CP2 (μF) = CP1 (μF) × 10 (5)
RFB2 // RP = RFB1 / 2 (6)
* Set the upper cut-off frequency of CP1 and RFB1 to
approx. 80 kHz (fOSC/10). (4)
* Choose the value of CP2 to produce zero-frequency at
1/10th the upper cut-off frequency. (5)
* If RFB2 is less than half of RFB1, RP and CP2 are not
necessary. (6)
(Only CP1 allows programming of VOUT above
1.8 V.)
Figure 4 Phase Compensation Circuit
Examples of Component Values in the Phase Compensation Circuit (For Reference Only)
The following values need tuning, depending on the TCV7100F’s I/O conditions and the board layout.
VOUT
COUT
RFB1
RFB2
RP
CP1
CP2
1.2 V
10
μF × 2
7.5 k
Ω
15 k
Ω
4.7 k
Ω
270 pF
2700 pF
1.51 V
10
μF × 2
16 k
Ω
18 k
Ω
15 k
Ω
120 pF
1200 pF
1.8 V
10
μF × 2
12 k
Ω
10 k
Ω
180 pF
2.5 V
10
μF × 2
5.1 k
Ω
2.4 k
Ω
390 pF
3.3 V
10
μF × 2
7.5 k
Ω
2.4 k
Ω
270 pF
The phase compensation circuit shown above delivers good transient load response characteristics with
small-value output filter capacitors by programming f0 (the frequency at which the open-loop gain is equal to
0dB) to a high frequency. For output filter capacitors, use low-ESR ceramic capacitors with excellent temperature
characteristics (such as the JIS B characteristic). Although the external phase compensation circuit improves
noise immunity, they should be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that the system’s ripple voltage requirement and
transient load response characteristics are met.
Soft-Start Feature
The TCV7100F has a soft-start feature.
If the SS pin is left open, the soft-start time, TSS, for VOUT defaults to 1 ms (typ.) internally.
The soft-start time can be extended by adding an external capacitor (CSS) between the SS and SGND pins. The
soft-start time can be calculated as follows:
SS
C
SS2
T
.
= 1
0
(7)
TSS2: Soft-start time (in seconds) when an external capacitor is
connected between SS and SGND.
CSS: Capacitor value (μF)
The soft-start feature is activated when the TCV7100F exits the undervoltage lockout (UVLO) state after
power-up and when the voltage at the EN pin has changed from logic low to logic high.
LX
VFB
R
FB1
R
FB2
VOUT
C
P1
C
P2
R
P
C
OUT
20
μF