LTC3868-1
Low I , Dual
Q
2-Phase Synchronous
Step-Down Controller
FEATURES
DESCRIPTION
The LTC®3868-1 is a high performance dual step-down
switching regulator controller that drives all N-channel
synchronouspowerMOSFETstages.Aconstantfrequency
current mode architecture allows a phase-lockable fre-
quency of up to 850kHz. Power loss and noise due to the
input capacitor ESR are minimized by operating the two
controller outputs out of phase.
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Low Operating I : 170μA (One Channel On)
Q
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Wide Output Voltage Range: 0.8V ≤ V
≤ 14V
OUT
Wide V Range: 4V to 24V
IN
R
or DCR Current Sensing
SENSE
Out-of-Phase Controllers Reduce Required Input
Capacitance and Power Supply Induced Noise
OPTI-LOOP® Compensation Minimizes C
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OUT
Phase-Lockable Frequency (75kHz to 850kHz)
Programmable Fixed Frequency (50kHz to 900kHz)
Selectable Continuous, Pulse-Skipping or
Burst Mode® Operation at Light Loads
Very Low Dropout Operation: 99% Duty Cycle
Adjustable Output Voltage Soft-Start
The 170ꢀA no-load quiescent current extends operating
lifeinbatterypoweredsystems.OPTI-LOOPcompensation
allows the transient response to be optimized over a wide
rangeofoutputcapacitanceandESRvalues.TheLTC3868-
1 features a precision 0.8V reference and a power good
output indicator. A wide 4V to 24V input supply range
encompasses a wide range of intermediate bus voltages
and battery chemistries.
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Power Good Output Voltage Monitor
Output Overvoltage Protection
Output Latchoff Protection During Short Circuit
Independent soft-start pins for each controller ramp the
output voltages during start-up. Current foldback limits
MOSFET heat dissipation during short-circuit conditions.
The output short-circuit latchoff feature further protects
the circuit in short-circuit conditions.
Low Shutdown I : 8μA
Q
Internal LDO Powers Gate Drive from V or EXTV
IN
CC
No Current Foldback During Start-Up
Small 4mm × 5mm QFN and Narrow SSOP Packages
For a leadless 32-pin QFN package with the additional fea-
tures of adjustable current limit, clock out, phase modula-
tion and two PGOOD outputs, see the LTC3868 data sheet.
L,LT,LTC,LTM,BurstMode,OPTI-LOOP,μModule,LinearTechnologyandtheLinearlogo
APPLICATIONS
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Notebook and Palmtop Computers
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Portable Instruments
Battery Operated Digital Devices
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areregisteredtrademarksandNoR
andUltraFastaretrademarksofLinearTechnology
SENSE
Corporation.Allothertrademarksarethepropertyoftheirrespectiveowners.ProtectedbyU.S.
Patents,including5481178,5705919,5929620,6100678,6144194,6177787,6304066,6580258.
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Distributed DC Power Systems
TYPICAL APPLICATION
High Efficiency Dual 8.5V/3.3V Step-Down Converter
V
Efficiency and Power Loss
IN
9V TO 24V
22μF
50V
vs Load Current
4.7μF
V
INTV
CC
100
90
10000
1000
100
10
IN
TG1
TG2
0.1μF
0.1μF
BOOST1
SW1
BOOST2
SW2
3.3μH
7.2μH
80
70
EFFICIENCY
BG1
BG2
60
50
LTC3868-1
PGND
POWER LOSS
= 12V
+
+
40
30
20
10
0
SENSE1
SENSE1
SENSE2
0.01Ω
193k
0.007Ω
–
1
–
V
8.5V
3.5A
SENSE2
OUT2
V
V
V
OUT1
3.3V
5A
IN
OUT
V
V
= 3.3V
FB1
FB2
I
TH2
62.5k
FIGURE 12 CIRCUIT
0.1 10
OUTPUT CURRENT (A)
I
TH1
SS1
0.1
150μF
680pF
15k
680pF
15k
150μF
SGND
SS2
0.0001 0.001
0.01
1
20k
20k
0.1μF
0.1μF
38681 TA01b
38681 TA01
38681fd
1