LTC3879 Fast, Wide Operating Range No RSENSE Step-Down Controller FEATURESDESCRIPTION n Wide VIN Range: 4V to 38V The LTC®3879 is a synchronous step-down switching n ±1% 0.6V Voltage Reference regulator controller optimized for high switching frequency n Extremely Fast Transient Response and fast transient response. The constant on-time valley n tON(MIN): 43ns current mode architecture allows for a wide input range, n No RSENSE™Valley Current Mode Control including very low duty factor operation. No external sense n Stable with Low ESR Ceramic COUT resistor or slope compensation is required. System fl ex- n Supports Smooth Start-Up in Pre-Biased Output ibility is offered through a user-programmable soft-start pin n Optimized for High Step-Down Ratios and independent RUN pin. The voltage ramping soft-start n Adjustable Output Voltage Soft-Start or Tracking function can be programmed with a capacitor or made to n Power Good Output Voltage Monitor track an external reference source. n Dual N-Channel MOSFET Synchronous Drive Operating frequency is set by an external resistor and n Adjustable Switching Frequency compensated for variations in V n IN to offer excellent line Programmable Current Limit with Foldback stability. Discontinuous mode operation provides high n Output Overvoltage Protection effi ciency during light load conditions. A forced continu- n 16-Pin MSOP and 3mm × 3mm QFN Packages ous control pin allows the user to reduce noise and RF APPLICATIONS interference. Safety features include output overvoltage protection and programmable current limit with foldback. n Distributed Power Systems The current limit is user programmable. n Embedded Computing The LTC3879 allows operation from 4V to 38V at the input n Communications Infrastructure and from 0.6V to 90% VIN at the output. The LTC3879 is L, LT, LTC and LTM are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation. available in a small 16-pin thermally enhanced MSOP or No RSENSE is a trademark of Linear Technology Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 3mm × 3mm QFN packages. Protected by U.S. Patents, including 5481178, 6100678, 6580258, 5847554, 6304066. TYPICAL APPLICATIONHigh Effi ciency Step-Down ConverterEffi ciency vs Load Current 432k 100 0.1μF RUN ION V 90 DISCONTINUOUS TRACK/SS V IN IN 4.5V TO 28V MODE 80 220pF TG RJK0305 10μF 27k LTC3879 70 ITH SW 0.56μH VOUT SGND BOOST 1.2V 60 CONTINUOUS MODE MODE 15A 0.22μF 50 INTVCC 330μF 40 BG RJK0330 s2 EFFICIENCY (%) 4.7μF 30 PGOOD PGND V 20 IN = 12V 10k VOUT = 1.2V 10 SW FREQ = 400kHz VRNG VFB FIGURE 10 CIRCUIT 0 10k 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 LOAD CURRENT (A) 3879 TA01a 3879 TA01b 3879f 1