MP2363 – 3A, 27V, 365KHz STEP-DOWN CONVERTER

MP2363 Rev. 1.0

www.MonolithicPower.com

7

6/15/2006

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© 2006 MPS. All Rights Reserved.

Choose a diode whose maximum reverse voltage

rating is greater than the maximum input voltage,

and whose current rating is greater than the

maximum load current. Table 2 lists example

Schottky diodes and manufacturers.

Table 2—Diode Selection Guide

Diode

Voltage/Current

Rating

Manufacture

SK33

30V, 3A

Diodes Inc.

SK34

40V, 3A

Diodes Inc.

B330

30V, 3A

Diodes Inc.

B340

40V, 3A

Diodes Inc.

MBRS330

30V, 3A

On Semiconductor

MBRS340

40V, 3A

On Semiconductor

Input Capacitor

The input current to the step-down converter is

discontinuous, therefore a capacitor is required

to supply the AC current to the step-down

converter while maintaining the DC input

voltage. Use low ESR capacitors for the best

performance. Ceramic capacitors are preferred,

but tantalum or low-ESR electrolytic capacitors

may also suffice.

Since the input capacitor (C1) absorbs the input

switching current it requires an adequate ripple

current rating. The RMS current in the input

capacitor can be estimated by:

⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛

×

−

×

=

IN

OUT

IN

OUT

LOAD

1

C

V

V

1

V

V

I

I

2

I

I

LOAD

1

For simplification, choose the input capacitor

whose RMS current rating greater than half of

the maximum load current.

The input capacitor can be electrolytic, tantalum

or ceramic. When using electrolytic or tantalum

capacitors, a small, high quality ceramic

capacitor, i.e. 0.1µF, should be placed as close

to the IC as possible. When using ceramic

capacitors, make sure that they have enough

capacitance to provide sufficient charge to

prevent excessive voltage ripple at input. The

input voltage ripple caused by capacitance can

be estimated by:

⎟⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜⎜

⎝

⎛

−

×

×

×

=

∆

IN

OUT

IN

OUT

S

LOAD

IN

V

V

1

V

V

1

C

f

I

V

Output Capacitor

The output capacitor (C2) is required to

maintain the DC output voltage. Ceramic,

tantalum or low ESR electrolytic capacitors are

recommended.

Low

ESR

capacitors

are

preferred to keep the output voltage ripple low.

The output voltage ripple can be estimated by:

⎟⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜⎜

⎝

⎛

×

×

+

×

⎟⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜⎜

⎝

⎛

−

×

×

=

∆

2

C

f

8

1

R

V

V

1

L

f

V

V

S

ESR

IN

OUT

S

OUT

OUT

equivalent series resistance (ESR) value of the

output capacitor.

In the case of ceramic capacitors, the

impedance at the switching frequency is

dominated by the capacitance. The output

voltage ripple is mainly caused by the

capacitance. For simplification, the output

voltage ripple can be estimated by:

⎟⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜⎜

⎝

⎛

−

×

×

×

×

=

IN

OUT

2

S

OUT

OUT

V

V

1

2

C

L

f

8

V

∆V

In the case of tantalum or electrolytic

capacitors, the ESR dominates the impedance

at the switching frequency. For simplification,

the output ripple can be approximated to:

ESR

IN

OUT

S

OUT

OUT

R

V

V

1

L

f

V

∆V

×

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎝

⎛ −

×

×

=

The characteristics of the output capacitor also

affect the stability of the regulation system. The

MP2363 can be optimized for a wide range of

capacitance and ESR values.