RoadTest: Step Down Converter EVM
Author: Morfeo_Matrixx
Creation date:
Evaluation Type: Power Supplies
Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True
What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?: TPS548A20, TPS53515, TPS549A20, TPS54020
What were the biggest problems encountered?: Not a big problem but a minor inconvenience, the EVM should have a Jumper to disable the 50 Ohm input resistor on the load step transient response test circuit, so a weak output drive function generator can be used without desoldering the resistor.
Detailed Review:
The TPS54A20EVM-770 received for this Road Test is based on the TPS54A20 Series Capacitor Synchronous Buck Converter chip, designed for 12 V input, 1.2 V output and 10 A full load current.
It has input and output screw terminals, as well as many convenient test-points and ground hookups for connecting scope probes.
Its main usage case is as a point-of-load voltage regulator in power delivery systems, where a large ratio of input voltage to output voltage (like 10-to-1) is needed. This includes supplying power to DSP, FPGA, ASIC, DDR memory chips, etc.
Specification | Test Conditions | Min. | Typ. | Max. | Unit |
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Vin voltage range | 8 | 12 | 14 | V | |
Out voltage (fixed in EVM-770) | 0.5 | 1.2 | 2 | V | |
Line regulation | Io=5A, Vin=9.2 to 14V | +/- 0.04% | |||
Load regulation | Vin=12V, Io=0 to 10A | +/- 0.03% | |||
Input ripple | Io=10A | 90 | mVpp | ||
Output ripple | 20 | mVpp | |||
Operating frequency | 2 | MHz | |||
The TPS54A20 is a DC/DC is a two-phase synchronous series-capacitor buck converter designed to provide up to a 10-A output current. The input (Vin) is rated for 8 V to 14 V; the switching frequency is set at a nominal 2 MHz for each side, giving an effective frequency of 4 MHz . The high-side and low-side MOSFETs are incorporated inside the package along with the gate drive circuitry, and an external resistor divider allows for a narrow adjustable output voltage. Additionally, the TPS54A20 provides adjustable slow start and undervoltage lockout inputs.
(Above Image provided in document SLVA750 by Texas Instruments)
The series capacitor buck converter topology, shown in the above figure, combines the switched capacitor with the switched inductor approach, in a hybrid 2 phase single conversion stage. The series capacitor is inserted between the high side and low side switch of phase A. The drain of the phase B high side switch is connected to the source of the phase A high side switch instead of the input supply.
The main differences between a series capacitor buck converter and a conventional buck converter are that the duty ratio of the high side switches is doubled, switching occurs with half the drain-to-source voltage experienced by switches in a buck converter, inductor current balancing is automatic, and inductor current ripple is decreased. All these factors are favorable for high frequency and high conversion ratio converters.
This overcomes many of the challenges faced by conventional buck converters operating at high frequencies: excessive switching loss and narrow high side switch pulse width. In high voltage conversion ratio (e.g. >5:1) and high current (e.g. >10 A) a large portion of total loss is switching loss. A very short on-time of the high side switch is challenging as well. Narrow pulse widths can be difficult to generate effectively.
A major drawback of the topology is a limitation of the theoretical maximum output voltage to Vin/4. This is due to a 50% duty cycle limitation and the switch node voltage being Vin/2 when the high side switches are on. In practice, the maximum output voltage is about Vin/5 when converter losses are taken into account.
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The EVM-770 is provided with input/output connectors and test points that allow an easy test setup. A regulated power supply providing 12V and at least 2A must be connected to J1, and the load to J4 through suitable wires (take into account that maximum load current capability is 10 A).
In order to not overload the MOSFET and load resistors, the input signal must have a low duty cycle (I used a pulse function with 200 Hz and a 1% duty cycle).
Here I discovered the only minor drawback of the circuit: If using a function generator that doesn't provide 50 Ohm output (as mine), you get a lower signal input to the MOSFET. So a Jumper disabling R11 should be useful here.
The TPS54A20EVM-770 evaluation board is very easy to setup and test. The series-capacitor two-phase synchronous topology allows for an amazingly small PCB area for a design handling up to 10A of continuous output load, with the additional benefit of a decent 82% efficiency, excellent 0.04% line & load regulation and low output ripple.