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Application Note 133 October 2011 A Closed-Loop, Wideband, 100A Active Load
Application Note 133 October 2011 A Closed-Loop, Wideband, 100A Active Load
October 2011
A Closed-Loop, Wideband, 100A Active Load
Brute Force Marries Controlled Speed
Jim Williams
Introduction
Digital systems, particularly microprocessors, furnish
transient loads in the 100A range that a voltage regulator
must service. Ideally, regulator output is invariant during
a load transient. In practice, some variation is encountered
and becomes problematic if allowable operating voltage
tolerances are exceeded. 100A load steps, characteristic
of microprocessors, exacerbate this issue, necessitating
testing the regulator and associated components under
such transient loading conditions. To meet this need, a
closed-loop, 500kHz bandwidth, linearly responding, 100A
capacity active load is described below.
Study of this approach is prefixed by a brief review of conventional test load types and noting their shortcomings1.
INPUT
PULSE
REGULATOR
VOLTAGE
MONITOR
RSWITCHED
LOAD
DC
LOAD
GATE
DRIVE
STAGE
0.001
AN133 F02
ISWITCHED
MONITOR
+EREGULATOR
REGULATOR
INPUT SUPPLY
REGULATOR
UNDER TEST
CURRENT
MONITOR
DC LOAD
VOLTAGE
MONITOR
RSWITCHED
LOAD
LOAD
SWITCH
ISWITCHED =
EREGULATOR
RSWITCHED LOAD
AN133 F01
Figure 1. Conceptual Regulator Load Tester Includes Switched and DC Loads and Voltage/Current Monitors. Resistor
Values Set DC and Switched Load Currents. Switched Current Is Either On or Off; There Is No Controllable Linear Region
an133f
AN133-1
REGULATOR
OUTPUT
VOLTAGE
MONITOR
+
INPUT
PULSE
(NEGATIVE)
A1
Q1
0.001
AN133 F03
V
BASELINE/DC LOAD SET
ISWITCHED
AND DC LOAD
MONITOR
INPUT AVG
DISSIPATION LIMITER
FET TEMP
TEMP
SENSE
INPUT
PULSE
(NEGATIVE)
SHUTDOWN
A1
GATE
DRIVE
STAGE
Q1
+
0.001
X10
AN133 F04
V
BASELINE/DC LOAD SET
Figure 4. Developed Form of Figure 3. Differential Amplifier Provides High Resolution Sensing Across Milliohm Shunt.
Dissipation Limiter, Acting on Average Input Value and FET Temperature, Shuts Down Gate Drive, Precluding Excessive
FET Heating. Amplifier Associated Capacitors Tailor Bandwidth, Optimize Loop Response
an133f
AN133-2
15V
DISSIPATION LIMITER
POWER
LIMIT
100k
C1
LT1011
1k
33k
13k
Q2
TP-0610L
5
BASELINE
1M CURRENT
5V
0V
15V
200
DISSIPATION
2k LIMIT
ADJUST
100k
470k
5
0.1
GATE DRIVE
2.2k
0.01
10F
Q6
2N3904
7pF TO 45pF
LOOP
COMPENSATION
Q4
2N3904
3
SW1
OPENS 70C
1N754
6.8V
10k
INPUT
TO LOAD POINT
OF SUPPLY
UNDER TEST
100k
0V TO 1V =
0A TO 100A
51
FET
RESPONSE
COMPENSATION
1.5k*
1.5k*
300pF
3.01k*
HIGH
CURRENT
CRITICAL
PATH
MINIMIZE
INDUCTANCE
GAIN
100
20pF
1V
Q1
HEAT SINK
FET
CURRENT
SINK
432*
A1
+ LT1220
50k
20pF
3
CONTROL
AMPLIFIER
Q3
VN2222L
1k
4.5k*
+
A3
LT1193 F
Q5
2N3906
0.001
5V
1k
15V
IQ
10mA
5V
X10 CURRENT SENSE
SUPPLY UNDER
TEST RETURN
POINT
10k
0.02
LT1004
2.5V
FEEDBACK
CURRENT
MONITOR
1V = 100A
150k
IQ ADJUST
1k
10k
A2
LT1006
15V
10k
= 1N4148
AN133 F05
1F
Figure 5. Detailed Circuitry Follows Figure 4s Concept. A1, Responding to DC and Pulsed Inputs, Sets Q1 Conductivity via
Actively Biased Gate Drive Stage. A3, Sensing Q1 Current, Closes A1s Feedback Loop. C1, Instructed by Average Input Value,
Shuts Down Q1 Gate Drive Under Harmful Conditions. Q6 Guards Against Lost 15V Supply. SW1 Adds Thermal Limiting. Trims
Optimize Dynamic Response, Determine Loop Baseline Idle Current, Set Dissipation Limit and Control Gate Drive Stage Bias
an133f
AN133-3
DC POWER SUPPLY
10,000F
COMBINATION OF
OS-CON, FILM AND
CERAMIC CAPACITORS
MINIMIZE
INDUCTANCE
MINIMIZE
INDUCTANCE
Q1
FIGURE 5s
CIRCUIT
AN133 F06
20A/DIV
HORIZ = 2s/DIV
AN133 F07
an133f
AN133-4
20A/DIV
20A/DIV
HORIZ = 2s/DIV
HORIZ = 2s/DIV
AN133 F10
AN133 F08
20A/DIV
20A/DIV
HORIZ = 2s/DIV
HORIZ = 500ns/DIV
AN133 F09
AN133 F11
20A/DIV
HORIZ = 500ns/DIV
AN133 F12
an133f
AN133-5
DC POWER SUPPLY
MINIMIZE
INDUCTANCE
10,000F
COMBINATION OF
OS-CON, FILM AND
CERAMIC CAPACITORS
DELIBERATLY
INTRODUCED
20nH PARASITIC
INDUCTANCE
MINIMIZE
INDUCTANCE
Q1
FIGURE 5s
CIRCUIT
AN133 F13
20A/DIV
20A/DIV
HORIZ = 10s/DIV
HORIZ = 2s/DIV
(14a)
(14b)
AN133 F14
Figure 14. 1.5" of 0.075" (20nH) Flat Copper Braided Wire Completely Distorts (Figure 14a)
Text Figure 7s (Shown Here as Figure 14b) Response. Note 5 Horizontal Scale Change
an133f
AN133-6
Regulator testing is possible after the above compensation and layout issues have been addressed. Figure 15
describes a test arrangement for an LTC3829 based,
6-phase, 120A buck regulator6. Trace A, Figure 16 shows
the 100A load pulse. Trace Bs regulator response is well
controlled on both edges.
INPUT
7V TO 14V
MINIMIZE
INDUCTANCE
FIGURE 5s
CIRCUIT
AN133 F15
A = 100A/DIV
B = 0.1V/DIV
AC-COUPLED
HORIZ = 10s/DIV
AN133 F16
an133f
AN133-7
50A/DIV
HORIZ = 10s/DIV
AN133 F17
50A/DIV
HORIZ = 20s/DIV
AN133 F18
TEMPERATURE DRIFT
CURRENT REGULATION
vs SUPPLY
BANDWIDTH
540kHz
AT 100A
(tRISE = 650ns)
435kHz
AT 10A
(tRISE = 800ns)
COMPLIANCE VOLTAGES
FOR FULL OUTPUT CURRENT
80
100ppm/C OF
READING + 20mA/C
>60dB PSRR
NO
OVERSHOOT
90
1% FS
70
AMPERES
CURRENT ACCURACY
(REFERRED TO INPUT)
4%
LEADING EDGE
OVERSHOOT
100
60
50
40
30
20
10
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2
MINIMUM Q1 DRAIN VOLTS
AN133 F19
Figure 19. Active Load Tabular Characteristics. Current Accuracy/Regulation Errors Are Small, Bandwidth Mildly Retards
at Low Current. Compliance Voltage Is Below 1V at 100A with 4% Leading Edge Overshoot, 1.1V with No Overshoot
an133f
AN133-8
APPENDIX A
TO FIGURE 6s
CAPACITOR BANK
AND DC SUPPLY
+
0.001
F LT1193
Q1
TO FIGURE 5s
CIRCUIT
4.5k*
+
LT1193 F
432*
0.001
BOTTOM-SIDE
CURRENT 4.5k*
432*
100
GAIN
100
GAIN
TOP-SIDE
CURRENT
AN133 FA01
* = 1% FILM RESISTOR
Figure A1. Arrangement For Observing Q1s Top and Bottom Dynamic Currents
A = 50A/DIV
B = 50A/DIV
HORIZ = 2s/DIV
AN133 FA02
AN133-9
an133f
AN133-10
COAXIAL METAL
ENCLOSURE
1k
INPUT FROM
PULSE GENERATOR
TRIGGER OUTPUT
300pF
t
50
T1
t
1k
INSULATED
SHELL BNC
OUTPUT TO
OSCILLOSCOPE
EXTERNAL
TRIGGER INPUT
AN133 FC01
Figure C1. Trigger Isolator Floats Input BNC Ground Using Insulated Shell BNC
Connector. Capacitively Coupled Pulse Transformer Avoids Loading Input, Maintains
Isolation, Delivers Trigger to Output. T1 Secondary Resistor Terminates Ringing
an133f
AN133-11
an133f
AN133-12
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