60 V Input Monolithic Converter Powers Critical Circuits Without Supercaps or Other Additional Components
60 V Input Monolithic Converter Powers Critical Circuits Without Supercaps or Other Additional Components
The LTC3649 is a monolithic step-down regulator capable of operating from an input voltage range of 3.1 V to 60 V, and efficiently producing a single resistor-programmable output voltage at up to 4 A of output current. These features alone make it a compelling industrial or automotive supply for output voltages from (VIN – 0.5 V) to ground. One unique feature of the LTC3649 is that it is capable of providing power to critical systems when there is a power outage, without any extra components.
Hold-up circuits supply power to critical systems when the main power rail fails, allowing them to perform important housekeeping tasks, such as data retention, for a short period before all available energy is lost. Typical hold-up solutions employ dedicated controllers and large storage capacitors,1, 2 such as with LTC3310 and LTC3643. Thus, additional costs and complexities are warranted if the critical circuits require significant power and hold-up time. But if the required hold-up energy is relatively low, the LTC3649 can easily perform this task with no additional circuitry.
The dual output converter described herein works as a conventional step-down power supply under normal operating conditions, but during a power interruption, the converter itself becomes the energy source, maintaining the programmed output voltage to critical circuits. To perform this task, U1 becomes a step-up converter when input voltage is disconnected, which causes U1 to discharge its output capacitor in order to provide hold-up energy.
Dual Output Converter and Hold-Up Circuit
Figure 1 shows a hold-up design using the LTC3649. Under normal conditions, the unregulated rail, VIN (VINS via a blocking diode) supplies a converter based on U1 (Converter A). This converter works in buck mode, generating a stable 5 V on VOUT1. VINS is connected to a U2-based second converter (Converter B), which supplies 3.3 V on VOUT2 to a critical load. When VIN fails, Converter A enters boost mode and maintains its programmed output voltage (VINS) by discharging its output filter capacitors C01and C02. Resistors RIT and RIB program this voltage level. The PGOOD (PG) signal produced by U1 can be used to communicate the power failure to systems that can disconnect noncritical circuitry to preserve energy. The MODE/SYNC pin is left floating to allow the LTC3649 to enter boost mode.
Figure 2 shows what happens to the LTC3649 in a boost mode. For the first 7 ms of the capture, all voltages are stable. At 7 ms, the power is turned off; both VIN and VINSbegin to decline. When VINS reaches 8 V, it stabilizes and the PG signal changes state, signaling the beginning of the VOUT1 collapsing. VINS remains at 8 V as long as C01 and C02 have charge. VOUT2 holds constant during the entire process, supplying steady power to the critical load long after the power is interrupted. Analog Devices has created an LTspice® model.
Conclusion
LTC3649 is a monolithic step-down regulator with integrated power MOSFETs. It is highly efficient, with low quiescent current, which is important in many battery-operated systems. It is also highly versatile, with programmable frequency, a wide VIN range up to 60 V, and an output voltage range down to ground. It simplifies the design of automotive and industrial supplies, especially when its inherent ability as a hold-up circuit is taken into account.
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