M
Triple-Output Power-S upply Controller
for Notebook Computers
20
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___________EV K it Standard Features
o
Battery Range: 5.5V to 20V*
o
Load Capability: 5V at 3A*
3.3V at 3A*
12V at 120mA or
15V at 200mA
o
3.3V and 5V Keep-Alive Linear Regulator Outputs
o
Dual PCMCIA VPP Outputs
o
Oscillator Sync Input
*For wider input voltage range or higher load current,
see the Design Procedure.
_________________EV K it Desc ription
The MAX783 evaluation kit (EV kit) is a preassembled
and tested demonstration board that embodies the
standard application circuit, with some extra pull-up
and pull-down resistors needed to set default logic sig-
nal levels. The board comes configured to accept bat-
tery voltages between 5.5V and 20V, but it can be
reconfigured for voltages between 5.5V and 30V. The
maximum voltage for safe operation (20V) is deter-
mined by the breakdown voltage rating of the external
MOSFETs and input filter capacitor (C1 and C2) volt-
age ratings; if these are replaced with high-voltage
devices, the board can tolerate 30V input without dam-
age (36V absolute max).
Load current capability of the standard board is 3A at
each main output (5V and 3.3V) and 60mA at each 12V
VPP output. Load current capability can also be config-
ured by selecting appropriate external components
and sense resistor values, with practical load capability
up to 7A at each main output and 500mA on the 15V
flyback output (see the Design Procedure for reconfig-
uring both load and input voltage capability). All func-
tions are controlled by two on-board dipswitches,
which can be overridden by external CMOS/TTL logic
signals if desired (provided the dipswitches are set to
off first).
See Table 3 for the EV kit components. These compo-
nents correspond exactly to Figure 1's Standard
Application Circuit, with the addition of the following
chip resistors (which are required only to set default
logic and supply levels). The comparator outputs both
swing 0V to 5V unless R14 is removed and R12 is
installed, in which case their output swing is 0V to 15V.
R3-R11
1M
5% resistors (logic pull-down, usually not
needed and not installed in normal applications)
R12
R13
Open-circuit (no resistor installed)
100k
5% chip resistor (SYNC pull-down,
usually shorted out)
560
5% resistor (pull-up for comparator sup-
ply, usually shorted out or left open)
___________EV K it Quic k Referenc e
Connect a stiff (30W or better) bench power supply to the
+V
IN
and GND pads found on the edge of the board.
Turn up the input voltage to somewhere between 5V and
20V. Set switches SW2A, SW2B, and SW2C on (if they
are not already on), taking the device out of shutdown
and turning on the main switching regulators. Set switch
SW2D off so that the oscillator is set to 200kHz, which is
the appropriate frequency for the 6V-20V input range.
The main outputs are now regulating and ready for heavy
loads. For best output accuracy and noise characteris-
tics, loads should be returned separately to the GND
pad corresponding to and adjacent to each output
(+3OUT and +5OUT). Normal full-load regulation
error is typically -2.5% while keeping the outputs with-
in tolerance. If the measured error is higher, there may
be drops in the wiring or ground. Ensure the voltmeter
is sensing directly at the output and ground pads.
To observe normal PWM switching action, place a 1A
load on either output and observe the corresponding
switching node (device LX_ pin) while varying the input
voltage. Without a load, the switching waveforms are
intermittent and difficult to trigger on and it may appear
that the board isn’t working (except for the presence of
output voltage).
To exercise the VPP controls, first ensure the 3.3V
switch-mode supply is ON. The loosely regulated fly-
back voltage (13V to 19V) will be present at the edge
pad marked “+15OUT”. Turn on each VPP output by
setting the appropriate code on SW1, where ON = HIGH
(see Table 1).
The 5V linear regulator output is always present, even in
shutdown mode, and can be measured at the VL pad. If
the battery is connected and VL is not at 5V or close to it,
something is wrong (excess VL load, possibly). The preci-
sion 3.3V linear regulator (REF) is activated by taking the
device out of shutdown mode (by turning SW2C on).
Turning on the SW2D sets the oscillator to 300kHz, but
the external component values should be changed first
(see the Design Procedure). The oscillator can be syn-
chronized to an external clock signal by driving the
SYNC pad with a 240kHz to 350kHz pulse train of 5V
amplitude while SW2D is off.
R14
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Evaluation K it Information