L5980TR Integrated Circuits (ICs)

PMIC - Voltage Regulators - DC DC Switching Regulators

The L5980TR is a multiphase, low-voltage, synchronous step-down electronic regulator that offers high performance and features to simplify the design and operation of the output stage. It is designed for automotive and mobile applications, offering a wide variety of features, including advanced fault protection, spread spectrum frequency and other technologies to reduce audible and conducted noise. The L5980TR integrates the latest synchronous power-conversion topology and is reliable for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications.

Application Field

This device is particularly suitable for automotive and mobile applications, such as automotive audio amplifiers, notebook computers, personal digital assistants and GPS applications. It offers excellent features, robust protection and high efficiency over a wide range of load conditions. It can deliver up to 10A output current and is capable of operating over a temperature range of -40°C to +125°C. It also employs spread spectrum modulation along with various other technologies to reduce noise.

Working Principle

The working principle of L5980TR is that it converts the input voltage in the form of a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal to the desired output voltage. It uses two power switches, two inductors and one capacitor to transfer the energy from input to output. Power switches are enabled simultaneously and turns off alternatively, thus connecting and disconnecting the inductors, and thus charging and discharging the output capacitors. This process is called “Pulsed-Width Modulation” (PWM).

The regulator outputs a multiphase output which can efficiently deliver high output current with minimum phase voltage drops. The converter has two stages of power conversion, input stage and output stage. In the input stage, the high-pass filter components L1, R1 & C1, remove switching noises and improve the EMI performance.

The output stage comprises two or more phases of the power switch, each phase having its own programmable frequency control and also multi loop compensation topologies to ensure reliable operation. The input voltage is sensed, filtered and regulated by a small feedback loop and the feedback error is combined with the reference voltage to form an error signal. This error signal is used to control the gating signals of the power switches, regulate the current flow and hence the voltage across the output capacitors.

The switching frequency is adjusted by a specific frequency control loop, which has two operating modes, fixed frequency and spread spectrum. The spread spectrum is a methodology used to reduce the noise generated due to presence of multiple output phases. Its main feature is that it varies the switching frequency slightly to avoid a single frequency harmonic.

The L5980TR includes several protection features, such as over-voltage protection, over current protection and short circuit protection. It also offers additional fault protection, such as over-temperature protection and soft start.

Conclusion

The L5980TR is a multiphase, low-voltage, synchronous step-down electronic regulator that offers high performance to simplify the design and operation of the output stage. It is suitable for automotive and mobile applications, offering a wide variety of features, including advanced fault protection, spread spectrum frequency and other technologies to reduce audible and conducted noise. It has two stages of power conversion, input stage and output stage and is reliable for a wide range of consumer and industrial applications.