8.2.2.1.1 Inductor Selection

Several inductors work with the TPS6514x. Especially with the external compensation, the performance can be adjusted to the specific application requirements. The main parameter for the inductor selection is the saturation current of the inductor which must be higher than the peak switch current as calculated above with additional margin to cover for heavy load transients and extreme start-up conditions. Another method is to choose the inductor with a saturation current at least as high as the minimum switch current limit of 1.6 A for the TPS65140 and TPS65141 and 0.96 A for the TPS65145. The different switch current limits allow selection of a physically smaller inductor when less output current is required. The second important parameter is the inductor DC resistance. Usually, the lower the DC resistance, the higher the efficiency. However, the inductor DC resistance is not the only parameter determining the efficiency. Especially for a boost converter where the inductor is the energy storage element, the type and material of the inductor influences the efficiency as well. Especially at high switching frequencies of 1.6 MHz, inductor core losses, proximity effects, and skin effects become more important. Usually, an inductor with a larger form factor yields higher efficiency. The efficiency difference between different inductors can vary from 2% to 10%. For the TPS6514x, inductor values from 3.3 µH to 6.8 µH are a good choice but other values can be used as well. Possible inductors are shown in Table 2.

8.2.2.1.2 Output Capacitor Selection

For best output voltage filtering, TI recommends a low-ESR output capacitor. Ceramic capacitors have a low ESR value but depending on the application, tantalum capacitors can be used as well. A 22-µF ceramic output capacitor works for most of the applications. Higher capacitor values can be used to improve load transient regulation. See Table 2 for the selection of the output capacitor. The output voltage ripple can be calculated as:

Equation 5.

where

• I_P = Peak switch current as calculated in the previous section with I_SW(peak)
• L = Selected inductor value
• I_OUT = Normal load current
• f_S = Switching frequency
• V_D = Rectifier diode forward voltage (typical 0.3 V)
• C_OUT = Selected output capacitor
• ESR = Output capacitor ESR value

8.2.2.1.3 Input Capacitor Selection

For good input voltage filtering, TI recommends low-ESR ceramic capacitors. A 22-µF ceramic input capacitor is sufficient for most of applications. For better input voltage filtering, this value can be increased. See Table 3 and the typical applications for input capacitor recommendations.

8.2.2.1.4 Rectifier Diode Selection

To achieve high efficiency, a Schottky diode must be used. The voltage rating must be higher than the maximum output voltage of the converter. The average forward current must be equal to the average inductor current of the converter. The main parameter influencing the efficiency of the converter is the forward voltage and the reverse leakage current of the diode; both must be as low as possible. Possible diodes are: On Semiconductor MBRM120L, Microsemi UPS120E, and Fairchild Semiconductor MBRS130L.

8.2.2.1.5 Converter Loop Design and Stability

The TPS6514x converter loop can be externally compensated and allows access to the internal transconductance error amplifier output at the COMP pin. A small feedforward capacitor across the upper feedback resistor divider speeds up the circuit as well. To test the converter stability and load transient performance of the converter, a load step from 50 mA to 250 mA is applied, and the output voltage of the converter is monitored. Applying load steps to the converter output is a good tool to judge the stability of such a boost converter.

8.2.2.1.6 Design Procedure Quick Steps

1. Select the feedback resistor divider to set the output voltage.
2. Select the feedforward capacitor to place a zero at 50 kHz.
3. Select the compensation capacitor on pin COMP. The smaller the value, the higher the low frequency gain.
4. Use a 50-kΩ potentiometer in series to C_C and monitor V_OUT during load transients. Fine tune the load transient by adjusting the potentiometer. Select a resistor value that comes closest to the potentiometer resistor value. This must be done at the highest V_in and highest load current because stability is most critical at these conditions.

8.2.2.1.7 Setting the Output Voltage and Selecting the Feedforward Capacitor

The output voltage is set by the external resistor divider and is calculated as:

Equation 6.

Across the upper resistor, a bypass capacitor is required to speed up the circuit during load transients as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Feedforward Capacitor

Together with R1 the bypass capacitor C8 sets a zero in the control loop at approximately 50 kHz:

Equation 7.

A value closest to the calculated value must be used. Larger feedforward capacitor values reduce the load regulation of the converter and cause load steps as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Load Step Caused by a Too Large Feedforward Capacitor Value

8.2.2.1.8 Compensation

The regulator loop can be compensated by adjusting the external components connected to the COMP pin. The COMP pin is connected to the output of the internal transconductance error amplifier. A typical compensation scheme is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Compensation Network

The compensation capacitor C_C adjusts the low frequency gain, and the resistor value adjusts the high frequency gain. The following formula calculates at what frequency the resistor increases the high frequency gain.

Equation 8.

Lower input voltages require a higher gain and a lower compensation capacitor value. A good start is C_C = 1 nF for a 3.3-V input and C_C = 2.2 nF for a 5-V input. If the device operates over the entire input voltage range from 2.7 V to 5.8 V, TI recommends a larger compensation capacitor up to 10 nF. Figure 7 shows the load transient with a larger compensation capacitor, and Figure 8 shows a smaller compensation capacitor.

Figure 7. C_C = 4.7 nF

Figure 8. C_C = 1 nF

Lastly, R_C must be selected. A good practice is to use a 50-kΩ potentiometer and adjust the potentiometer for the best load transient where no oscillations should occur. These tests have to be done at the highest V_IN and highest load current because the converter stability is most critical under these conditions. Figure 9, Figure 10, and Figure 11 show the fine tuning of the loop with R_C.

Figure 9. Overcompensated (Damped Oscillation),
R_C is Too Large

Figure 11. Optimum, R_C is Ideal

Figure 10. Undercompensated (Loop is Too Slow),
R_C is Too Small

8.2.2.1.9 Negative Charge Pump

The negative charge pump provides a regulated output voltage by inverting the main output voltage, V_O1. The negative charge pump output voltage is set with external feedback resistors.

The maximum load current of the negative charge pump depends on the voltage drop across the external Schottky diodes, the internal ON-resistance of the charge pump MOSFETS Q8 and Q9, and the impedance of the flying capacitor, C12. When the voltage drop across these components is larger than the voltage difference from V_O1 to V_O2, the charge pump is in drop out, providing the maximum possible output current. Therefore, the higher the voltage difference between V_O1 and V_O2, the higher the possible load current. See Figure 21 for the possible output current versus boost converter voltage V_O1 and the calculations below.

Setting the output voltage:

Equation 10.

Equation 11.

The lower feedback resistor value, R4, must be in a range from 40 kΩ to 120 kΩ or the overall feedback resistance must be within 500 kΩ to 1 MΩ. Smaller values load the reference too heavy and larger values may cause stability problems. The negative charge pump requires two external Schottky diodes. The peak current rating of the Schottky diode must be twice the load current of the output. For a 20-mA output current, the dual Schottky diode BAT54 or similar is a good choice.

8.2.2.1.10 Positive Charge Pump

The positive charge pump can be operated in a voltage doubler mode or a voltage tripler mode depending on the configuration of the C2+ and C2–/MODE pins. Leaving the C2+ pin open and connecting C2-/MODE to GND forces the positive charge pump to operate in a voltage doubler mode. If higher output voltages are required the positive charge pump can be operated as a voltage tripler. To operate the charge pump in the voltage tripler mode, a flying capacitor must be connected to C2+ and C2–/MODE.

The maximum load current of the positive charge pump depends on the voltage drop across the internal Schottky diodes, the internal ON-resistance of the charge pump MOSFETS, and the impedance of the flying capacitor. When the voltage drop across these components is larger than the voltage difference V_O1 × 2 to V_O3 (doubler mode) or V_O1 × 3 to V_O3 (tripler mode), then the charge pump is in dropout, providing the maximum possible output current. Therefore, the higher the voltage difference between V_O1 x 2 (doubler) or V_O1 × 3 (tripler) to V_O3, the higher the possible load current. See Figure 22 and Figure 23 for output current versus boost converter voltage, V_O1, and the following calculations.

Voltage doubler:

Voltage tripler:

The output voltage is set by the external resistor divider and is calculated as:

Equation 14.

Equation 15.

8.2.2.1.11 Linear Regulator Controller

The TPS6514x includes a linear regulator controller to generate a 3.3-V rail when the system is powered from a 5-V supply. Because an external NPN transistor is required, the input voltage of the TPS6514x applied to VIN must be higher than the output voltage of the regulator. To provide a minimum base drive current of 13.5 mA, a minimum internal voltage drop of 500 mV from V_I to V_BASE is required. This can be translated into a minimum input voltage on VIN for a certain output voltage as the following calculation shows:

The base drive current together with the h_FE of the external transistor determines the possible output current. Using a standard NPN transistor like the BCP68 allows an output current of 1 A and using the BCP54 allows a load current of 337 mA for an input voltage of 5 V. Other transistors can be used as well, depending on the required output current, power dissipation, and PCB space. The device is stable with a 4.7-µF ceramic output capacitor. Larger output capacitor values can be used to improve the load transient response when higher load currents are required.