Micrel, Inc. MIC28512
March 25, 2015 16 Revision 1.2
Functional Description
The MIC28512 is an adaptive on-time synchronous buck
regulator with integrated high-side and low-side
MOSFETs suitable for high-input voltage to low-output
voltage conversion applications. It is designed to operate
over a wide input voltage range (4.6V to 70V) which is
suitable for automotive and industrial applications. The
output is adjustable with an external resistive divider. An
adaptive on-time control scheme is employed to produce
a constant switching frequency in continuous-conduction
mode and reduced switching frequency in discontinuous-
operation mode, improving light load efficiency.
Overcurrent protection is implemented by sensing low-
side MOSFET’s RDS(ON). The device features internal soft-
start, enable, UVLO, and thermal shutdown.
Theory of Operation
As illustrated in the Functional Diagram, the output
voltage of the MIC28512 is sensed by the feedback (FB)
pin via the voltage dividers R1 and R2, and compared to
a 0.8V reference voltage VREF at the error comparator
through a low-gain transconductance (gM) amplifier. If the
feedback voltage decreases and the amplifier output is
below 0.8V, the error comparator will trigger the control
logic and generate an ON-time period. The ON-time
period length is predetermined by the “Fixed tON
Estimator” circuitry:
SWIN
OUT
)ESTIMATED(ON fV
V
t
Eq. 1
where VOUT is the output voltage, VIN is the power stage
input voltage, and fSW is the switching frequency.
At the end of the ON-time period, the internal high-side
driver turns off the high-side MOSFET and the low-side
driver turns on the low-side MOSFET. The OFF-time
period length depends upon the feedback voltage in most
cases. When the feedback voltage decreases and the
output of the gM amplifier is below 0.8V, the ON-time
period is triggered and the OFF-time period ends. If the
OFF-time period determined by the feedback voltage is
less than the minimum OFF-time tOFF(min), which is about
200ns (typical), the MIC28512 control logic will apply the
tOFF(min) instead. The tOFF(min) is required to maintain
enough energy in the boost capacitor (CBST) to drive the
high-side MOSFET.
The maximum duty cycle is obtained from:
SW)MIN(OFFMAX ft1D Eq. 2
It is not recommended to use MIC28512 with an OFF-
time close to tOFF(min) during steady-state operation.
The adaptive ON-time control scheme results in a
constant switching frequency in the MIC28512. The
actual ON-time and resulting switching frequency will
vary with the different rising and falling times of the
external MOSFETs. Also, the minimum tON results in a
lower switching frequency in high VIN to VOUT applications.
During load transients, the switching frequency is
changed due to the varying OFF-time.
Figure 1 shows the allowable range of the output voltage
versus the input voltage. The minimum output voltage is
0.8V which is limited by the reference voltage. The
maximum output voltage is 24V which is limited by the
internal circuitry.
Figure 1. Allowable Output Voltage Range vs. Input Voltage
To illustrate the control loop operation, both the steady-
state and load transient scenarios will be analyzed.
Figure 2 shows the MIC28512 control loop timing during
steady-state operation. During steady-state, the gM
amplifier senses the feedback voltage ripple, which is
proportional to the output voltage ripple and the inductor
current ripple, to trigger the ON-time period. The ON-time
is predetermined by the tON estimator. The termination of
the OFF-time is controlled by the feedback voltage. At the
valley of the feedback voltage ripple, which occurs when
VFB falls below VREF, the OFF period ends and the next
ON-time period is triggered through the control logic
circuitry.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
5 1831445770
OUTPUIT VOLTAGE (V)
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
Output Voltage Rrange
vs. Input Voltage
Fsw = 600kHz
Fsw = 400kHz
Fsw = 200kHz
0.8V (MINIMUM)
ALLOWABLE RANGE