Microprocessor manufacturers’ relentless push for higher speed and lower power dissipation, especially in areas of mobile laptop computer processors, is forcing supply voltages to these processors to a level previously thought impossible or impractical. In fact, the supply voltage has become so critical that different microprocessors demand different yet precise supply voltage levels in order to function optimally.

To accommodate this new generation of microprocessors, LTC introduces the LTC1706-19 VID (voltage identification) voltage programmer. This device is a precision, digitally programmable resistive divider designed for use with an entire family of LTC’s DC/DC converters with onboard 1.19V references. These converters include the LTC1433, LTC1434, LTC1435, LTC1435A, LTC1436, LTC1438, LTC1439, LTC1538-AUX, LTC1539 and LTC1624. (Consult the factory for future compatible DC/DC converter products.) The LTC1706-19 is fully compliant with the Intel mobile VID specifications and comes in a tiny SO-8 package. Four digital pins are provided to program output voltages from 1.3V to 2.0V in 50mV steps with an accuracy of ±0.25%.

Figure 1 shows a VID-programmed DC/DC converter for an Intel mobile processor that uses the LTC1435A and LTC1706-19 to deliver 7A of output current with a programmable V_OUT of 1.3V to 2.0V from a V_IN of 4.5V to 22V. Simply connecting the LTC1706-19’s FB and SENSE pins to the LTC1435A’s V_OSENSE and SENSE^– pins, respectively, closes the loop between the output voltage sense and the feedback inputs of the LTC1435A regulator with the appropriate resistive divider network, which is controlled by the LTC1706-19’s four VID input pins.

Figure 2 shows a simplified block diagram of the LTC1706-19. A 40k resistor in series with a diode from V_CC pulls up each VID input pin. Therefore, the VID pin must be grounded or driven low to produce a digital low input, whereas a digital high input can be generated by either floating the VID pin or connecting it to V_CC. Series diodes from V_CC are included to prevent the inputs from being damaged or clamped by a potential higher than V_CC. This allows the LTC1706-19 to be fully TTL compatible and operational over a VID input voltage range that is much higher than V_CC. When all the inputs are high, the LTC1706-19 has a typical quiescent current of 0.1µA from V_CC, because all active devices are turned off. However, due to the pull-up resistors on each of the VID programming inputs, each grounded input contributes approximately 68µA, (V_CC – 0.6)/40k of supply current in a 3.3V system.

The top feedback resistor in the block diagram, R_FB1, connected between SENSE and FB, is a 15k resistor whose value is not modified by the state of the VID program inputs. The bottom feedback resistor, R_FB2, however, is modified by the four VID inputs. The precision of the ratio between R_FB2 and R_FB1 results in a ±0.25% output accuracy.

Table 1 shows the VID inputs and their corresponding output voltages. VID3 is the most significant bit (MSB) and VID0 is the least significant bit (LSB). When all four inputs are low, the LTC1706-19 sets the regulator output voltage to 2.00V. Each increasing binary count is equivalent to decreasing the output voltage by 50mV. Therefore, to obtain a 1.30V output, the three MSBs are left floating while only VID0 is grounded. In cases where all four VID inputs are tied high or left floating, such as when no processor is present in the system, a regulated 1.25V output is generated at V_SENSE.

Figure 3 shows a combination of the LTC1624 and the LTC1706-19 configured as a high efficiency step-down switching regulator with a programmable output of 1.3V to 2.0V from an input of 4.8V to 20V. Using only one N-channel power MOSFET, the two SO-8 packaged LTC parts offer an extremely versatile, efficient, compact regulated power supply.

Figure 4 shows the LTC1436A-PLL and the LTC1706-19, a combination that yields a high efficiency low noise synchronous step-down switching regulator with programmable 1.3V to 2V outputs and external frequency synchronization capability.

Besides the LTC family of 1.19V-referenced DC/DC converters, the LTC1706-19 can also be used to program the output voltages of regulators with different onboard references. Figure 5 shows the LTC1706-19 programming the output of the LT1575, an UltraFast^™ transient response, low dropout regulator that is ideal for today’s power-hungry desktop microprocessors. However, since the LT1575 has a 1.21V reference instead of a 1.19V reference, the output will range from 1.27V to 2.03V in steps of 50.8mV.

The LTC1706-19 is the ideal companion chip to provide precise, programmable low-voltage outputs for an entire family of LTC DC/DC converters. Its compact size, compatibility and high accuracy are just the right features for today’s portable electronic equipment.