ZXLD1362
Issue 1 - December 2007 6 www.zetex.com
© Zetex Semiconductors plc 2007
Device description
The device, in conjunction with the coil (L1) and current sense resistor (R
S
), forms a self-
oscillating continuous-mode buck converter.
Device operation (refer to Figure 1 - Block diagram and Figure 2 Operating waveforms)
Operation can be best understood by assuming that the ADJ pin of the device is unconnected and
the voltage on this pin (V
ADJ
) appears directly at the (+) input of the comparator.
When input voltage V
IN
is first applied, the initial current in L1 and R
S
is zero and there is no
output from the current sense circuit. Under this condition, the (-) input to the comparator is at
ground and its output is high. This turns MN on and switches the LX pin low, causing current to
flow from V
IN
to ground, via R
S
, L1 and the LED(s). The current rises at a rate determined by V
IN
and L1 to produce a voltage ramp (V
SENSE
) across R
S
. The supply referred voltage V
SENSE
is
forced across internal resistor R1 by the current sense circuit and produces a proportional current
in internal resistors R2 and R3. This produces a ground referred rising voltage at the (-) input of
the comparator. When this reaches the threshold voltage (V
ADJ
), the comparator output switches
low and MN turns off. The comparator output also drives another NMOS switch, which bypasses
internal resistor R3 to provide a controlled amount of hysteresis. The hysteresis is set by R3 to be
nominally 10% of V
ADJ
.
When MN is off, the current in L1 continues to flow via D1 and the LED(s) back to V
IN
. The current
decays at a rate determined by the LED(s) and diode forward voltages to produce a falling voltage
at the input of the comparator. When this voltage returns to V
ADJ
, the comparator output switches
high again. This cycle of events repeats, with the comparator input ramping between limits of
V
ADJ
± 10%.
Switching thresholds
With V
ADJ
= V
REF
, the ratios of R1, R2 and R3 define an average V
SENSE
switching threshold of
100mV (measured on the I
SENSE
pin with respect to V
IN
). The average output current I
OUTnom
is
then defined by this voltage and R
S
according to:
I
OUTnom
= 100mV/R
S
Nominal ripple current is ±10mV/R
S
Adjusting output current
The device contains a low pass filter between the ADJ pin and the threshold comparator and an
internal current limiting resistor (50k⍀ nom) between ADJ and the internal reference voltage. This
allows the ADJ pin to be overdriven with either DC or pulse signals to change the V
SENSE
switching threshold and adjust the output current.
Details of the different modes of adjusting output current are given in the applications section.
Output shutdown
The output of the low pass filter drives the shutdown circuit. When the input voltage to this circuit
falls below the threshold (0.2V nom.), the internal regulator and the output switch are turned off.
The voltage reference remains powered during shutdown to provide the bias current for the
shutdown circuit. Quiescent supply current during shutdown is nominally 60A and switch
leakage is below 5A.