AN32

DS00800A-page 1 2001 Microchip Technology, Inc.

TC170 CMOS SMPS Current-Mode Controller
FIGURE 1: Functional diagram.
INTRODUCTION
The TC170 is a CMOS current-mode PWM control IC. It features
pulse-by-pulse current limiting, inherent feed forward, simple
loop compensation, low power consumption, and an output stage
optimized to drive power MOSFETs.
CURRENT-MODE CONTROL
Current-mode control has been an industry buzz word for some
time but is still not well understood. Current-mode control is most
often used for buck regulators and buck derivatives. It can be used
for half-bridge designs, but is harder to implement.
There are a number of current-mode control schemes in use. The
TC170s architecture is that of a fixed frequency, peak current
Author: Dan Shum,
Microchip Technology, Inc.
terminating design. The clock starts the cycle and when the peak
current reaches a value set by V
REF
, the cycle is terminated until
the next clock pulse (See Figure 2).
This then would be a system that appears as a constant current
source. This current (in the primary of the transformer) is, in effect,
very close to the value of the average current in the output inductor.
The output inductor is then effectively taken out of the feedback
loop that we have added in Figure 3, because the inductor is fed
from a constant current source. Since the inductor is effectively
removed from the circuit, we dont have to worry about the inductor
resonating with the output capacitor causing an unstable or condi-
tionally stable power supply. This makes the loop look like a single-
pole system. This means that the loop gain decreases as the
frequency increases at a rate of 6dB per octave.
If the system did not have single-pole response (voltage mode
control has double-pole response), the roll-off would be at 12dB per
decade after the gain peak, due to the LC combination(see Figure 4).
5.1-Volt
Reference
Oscillator
3.15 Current
Amplifier PWM
Comparator
Positive
Feedback
15
9
10
3
4
7
5
8
6
V
IN
Synch
() Current
Sense Input
(+) Current
Sense Input
Comp
(+) Error
Amp Input
() Error
Amp Input
Error
Amplifier
100A
0.75V
Limit Buffer
Amplifier
Q4
350mV
Lock-up
Amplifier
Q3
Q1 Q2
3.5k
Shutdown
Comparator
350
mV
6k
Shutdown
Current Limit/
Soft-Start Adjust
Note: Outputs low in OFF state.
16
1
S
S
R
Q
C
D Q
Q
Ground
V
DD
Output
A ( )
12
14
11
13
PWM Latch
TC170
V
REF
2
+
R
OUT
C
OUT
+
V
S
+

+
+

Undervoltage
Lockout
Output
B ( )
+

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2001 Microchip Technology, Inc. DS00800A-page 2
FIGURE 2: Current mode with no voltage feedback.
FIGURE 3: Current mode with voltage feedback.
FIGURE 4: Ideal loop response voltage and current mode.
So, one of the most, if not the most, significant points of current-
mode control is that it makes it easier for the designer to close the
control loop and make it stable.
Oscillator
One area in which the low power consumption of the TC170 is most
noticeable to the user is in the oscillator section. The value of timing
capacitors and resistors is much higher than its bipolar counter-
parts.
The dead time is a function of the value of the timing capacitor and
reset current in the TC170. Typical values are 220pF to 3300pF.
The formula in this datasheet is approximate and is typically within
25% to 33% of the actual value for any particular part.
Another way to calculate dead time is dv/dt = I/C, where dv is the
hysteresis of the comparator in the oscillator (2V), dt is the dead
time, I is the reset current sink (1mA), and C is the value of the
timing capacitor in farads. This method of calculation is most useful
when the value of the timing resistor, R
O,
is 20k and above.
The ramp-up time of the capacitor, which is the maximum pulse
width, is set by the timing resistor on pin 9. Typical values are 5k
to 70k.
The ramp never quite gets to 0V during reset; however, the higher the
frequency of oscillation, the closer to 0V the bottom of the ramp gets.
Voltage Reference and Undervoltage Lockout
The voltage reference is set for 5.1V. This voltage is derived from
a temperature-compensated zener diode with a buffered output. It
can be used for a reference for the error amplifier and the current
limit set point of pin 1.
The undervoltage circuit is specified for start-up point and hyster-
esis to the stop point. This allows the designer to accurately
calculate when the TC170 will start and stop when powered by an
external supply. Since this external supply may be the power line,
this can be a very useful feature and can save costly external
circuits that monitor the supply.
Current-Limit Amplifier
The current-limit amplifier is a fixed-gain, high-frequency amplifier.
Its purpose is to allow a small input signal from a current-sense
transducer, such as a current transformer or a resistor. By arrang-
ing for a small input, the losses across the current-sense element
are held to a minimum.
The fixed gain of the current amplifier limits the input voltage to
1.1V. At this input voltage the amplifier has run out of swing and is
approaching saturation.
The TC170 datasheet shows some typical current-sensing schemes.
In
Clock
Comparator
V
REF
Current
Amplifier
Q R
S
+

In
Clock
Comparator
V
REF
Current Amplifier
Error Amp
Out Filter
Q R
S
+

+
LC (Voltage Mode)
C Only
Single Pole
(Current Mode)
100 1K 10K 10 0
40
Gain
0
R
E
F
E
R
E
N
C
E

(
d
B
)
FREQUENCY (kHz)
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DS00800A-page 3 2001 Microchip Technology, Inc.
Maximum Current Set Point (Pin 1)
The maximum current set point is adjusted by the value of the
voltage that appears at pin 1. The TC170 datasheet shows how to
set the value of the resistors for the intended application. These
resistors also determine (by the amount of current flowing through
the top resistor) the mode that the TC170 will go into upon
shutdown. There are two modes, hick-up and latch (see Figure 5).
Shutdown
Hick-up mode is when the power supply resets itself upon shut-
down and then goes through a soft-start cycle. If shutdown is still
invoked, the power supply resets again and the cycle starts over.
The latch mode is set by allowing the current into pin 1 to be greater
than 125A. When pin 16 (the shutdown input) goes high, the
shutdown comparator trips, causing Q2 to turn on, which generates
a voltage feedback signal to the lockup amplifier. This turns on Q2,
resulting in Q2 remaining on, no matter what the state of pin 16.
The only way out of latch mode is to stop current to pin 1. This is
accomplished by recycling power to the TC170 or by opening the
current path to pin 16.
The TC170 data sheet explains how to calculate the value of the
divider string for the two modes and how to set the peak current limit.
By adding a capacitor from the intersection of R1 and R2 to ground,
a soft-start function can be generated. The capacitor slowly charges,
causing the voltage at pin 1 (which is the value of the peak current
limit) to rise, and the pulse width to slowly increase. Note that, since
the capacitor is fed from a voltage source, the rise is exponential,
not linear.
Output Stage
The most important thing to remember about the output stage is
that it is not possible to tie the output stage supply (pin 13) to a
voltage more than 350mV different than V
IN
(pin 15). This results
in latch-up of the TC170. This latch-up phenomena is explained in
Application Note 31.
FIGURE 5: Shutdown and current-limit control section, TC170.
TC170
Switch
Current
X 3.15 Current Amplifier
0.75V
+
4
3
7
5
6
V
+
S
100 A m
V1
Error
Amplifier
Positive
Feedback
Q2
350mV
Shutdown Comparator
350mV
6k
Q4
From
Undervoltage
Lockout
10
PWM Latch
S
S
R
Q
Lock-up
Amplifier
I
L
3.5k
Q1
PWM Comparator
"A" = 1
Output
Off (Low)
V
REF
5.1V
2
V1
R2
16
Limit
Buffer
Amplifier
RS
R1
1
+

+
+

Q3
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2001 Microchip Technology, Inc. DS00800A-page 4
FIGURE 6: Self-powered drive scheme.
Each output can drive a 1000pF load 16V in only 50nsec. If greater
speed is required, an additional output driver, such as the TC44XX
family, can be used in increase the output current. These drivers
are capable of up to 6 amps of drive current.
Figure 5 shows how an external driver can help get around the
limitation of only one power supply for the TC170.
TC170
TC427
Ouptut
12 11
13 15
12V
100F
Input
4
CONCLUSION
The TC170 dissipates very little power when compared to its
bipolar counterparts. This, combined with its fast rail-to-rail drive
capability, makes the TC170 a natural replacement for bipolar
parts.
2001 Microchip Technology Inc. DS00800A-page 5
AN32
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