LT3837
11
3837fa
OPERATION
Minimum Output Switch On-Time (tON(MIN))
The LT3837 affects output voltage regulation via yback
pulse action. If the output switch is not turned on, there
is no yback pulse and output voltage information is
not available. This causes irregular loop response and
start-up/latch-up problems. The solution is to require the
primary switch to be on for an absolute minimum time
per each oscillator cycle. If the output load is less than
that developed under these conditions, forced continuous
operation normally occurs. See Applications Information
for further details.
Enable Delay (ENDLY)
The yback pulse appears when the primary side switch
shuts off. However, it takes a nite time until the trans-
former primary side voltage waveform represents the
output voltage. This is partly due to rise time on the pri-
mary side MOSFET drain node but, more importantly, is
due to transformer leakage inductance. The latter causes
a voltage spike on the primary side, not directly related
to output voltage. Some time is also required for internal
settling of the feedback amplier circuitry. In order to
maintain immunity to these phenomena, a xed delay is
introduced between the switch turn-off command and the
enabling of the feedback amplier. This is termed “enable
delay.” In certain cases where the leakage spike is not
sufciently settled by the end of the enable delay period,
regulation error may result. See Applications Information
for further details.
Collapse Detect
Once the feedback amplier is enabled, some mechanism
is then required to disable it. This is accomplished by a
collapse detect comparator, which compares the yback
voltage (FB referred) to a xed reference, nominally 80%
of VFB. When the yback waveform drops below this level,
the feedback amplier is disabled.
Minimum Enable Time
The feedback amplier, once enabled, stays enabled for
a xed minimum time period termed “minimum enable
time.” This prevents lockup, especially when the output
voltage is abnormally low; e.g., during start-up. The mini-
mum enable time period ensures that the VC node is able
to “pump up” and increase the current mode trip point to
the level where the collapse detect system exhibits proper
operation. This time is internally set.
Effects of Variable Enable Period
The feedback amplier is enabled during only a portion of
the cycle time. This can vary from the xed minimum enable
time described to a maximum of roughly the “off” switch
time minus the enable delay time. Certain parameters of
yback amp behavior are directly affected by the variable
enable period. These include effective transconductance
and VC node slew rate.
Load Compensation Theory
The LT3837 uses the yback pulse to obtain information
about the isolated output voltage. An error source is
caused by transformer secondary current ow through the
synchronous MOSFET RDS(ON)andreallifenonzeroimped-
ances of the transformer secondary and output capacitor.
This was represented previously by the expression “ISEC
(ESR + RDS(ON)).” However, it is generally more useful
to convert this expression to effective output impedance.
Because the secondary current only ows during the off
portion of the duty cycle (DC), the effective output imped-
ance equals the lumped secondary impedance divided by
OFF time DC.
Since the OFF time duty cycle is equal to 1 – DC then:
R
ESR R
DC
S OUT
DS ON
()
–
=
+
1
where:
RS(OUT) = effective supply output impedance
DC = duty cycle
RDS(ON) and ESR are as dened previously
This impedance error may be judged acceptable in less
critical applications, or if the output load current remains
relatively constant. In these cases the external FB resistive
divider is adjusted to compensate for nominal expected
error. In more demanding applications, output impedance
error is minimized by the use of the load compensation
function.