DATASHEET
Dual Phase PMBus™ ChargeMode™ Control DC/DC
Digital Controller
ZL8801
Features
• Unique compensation-free design – always stable
• Output voltage range: 0.54V to 5.5V
• Input voltage range: 4.5V to 14V
The ZL8801 is a dual phase digital DC/DC controller. Up to four
ZL8801s (8 phases) can be operated in parallel to provide
additional output current.
The ZL8801 supports a wide range of output voltages
(0.54V to 5.5V) operating from input voltages as low as 4.5V
up to 14V.
• 1% output voltage accuracy over line, load and temperature
• Charge mode control achieves fast transient response,
reduced output capacitance and provides output stability
without compensation
With its fully digital ChargeMode™ Control loop the ZL8801
can respond to a transient load step within a single switching
cycle. This unique compensation-free modulation technique
allows designs to meet transient specifications with minimum
output capacitance, thus saving cost and board space.
• Single 2-phase output, up to 8 phases with multiple devices
• Switching frequency range 200kHz to 1.33MHz
• Proprietary single wire DDC (Digital-DC) serial bus enables
voltage sequencing and fault spreading with all other Intersil
digital power ICs
Intersil’s proprietary single wire DDC (Digital-DC™) serial bus
enables the ZL8801 to communicate between other Intersil
digital power ICs. By using the DDC, the ZL8801 achieves
complex functions such as inter-IC phase current balancing,
sequencing and fault spreading, eliminating complicated
power supply managers with numerous external discrete
components.
• Tracking of an external power supply in the single 2-phase
configuration
• Cycle-by-cycle inductor peak current protection
• Digital fault protection for output voltage UV/OV, input
voltage UV/OV, temperature and MOSFET driver voltage
The ZL8801 features cycle-by-cycle overcurrent protection and
protection for overvoltage, undervoltage, over-temperature and
MOSFET driver under and overvoltage protection. A snapshot
parametric capture feature allows users to take a snapshot of
operating and fault data during normal or fault conditions.
• 10-bit cycle-by-cycle average output current measurement
with adjustable gain settings for sensing with high current,
low DCR inductors
• 10-bit monitor ADC measures input voltage, input current,
output voltage, internal, external temperature, driver voltage
Integrated Low Drop-Out (LDO) regulators allow the ZL8801 to
be operated from a single input supply eliminating the need
for additional linear regulators. A dedicated 5V VDRV LDO
output can be used to power external drivers or DrMOS
devices.
• Configurable to use standalone MOSFET drivers or
integrated driver-MOSFET (DrMOS) devices
• Nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) for storing operating
parameters and fault events.
With full PMBus™ compliance, the ZL8801 is capable of
measuring and reporting input voltage, input current, output
voltage, output current as well as the device’s internal
temperature, an external temperature and an auxiliary voltage
input.
• PMBus™ compliant
Applications
• Servers/storage equipment
• Telecom/datacom equipment
• Power supplies (memory, DSP, ASIC, FPGA)
Related Literature
• AN1948, “ZL8801-4PH-DEMO1Z Demonstration Board User
Guide”
TABLE 1. KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FAMILY OF PARTS
PART NUMBER DUAL OUTPUT DUAL PHASE DDC CURRENT SHARE
• UG005, “ZL8801-2PH-DEMO1Z Demonstration Board User
Guide”
ZL8800
ZL8801
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
• AN1900, “USB to PMBus™ Adapter User Guide”
Yes
March 27, 2015
FN8614.3
CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
1-888-INTERSIL or 1-888-468-3774 | Copyright Intersil Americas LLC 2014, 2015. All Rights Reserved
Intersil (and design), ChargeMode and Digital-DC are trademarks owned by Intersil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.
All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
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