
Application Notes
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PT5500/5520 Series
Using the Inhibit Control on the PT5500/PT5520
Series of Excalibur
Step-Down ISRs
For applications requiring output voltage On/Off control,
both the PT5500 and PT5520 series of power modules
incorporate an inhibit function. This function can be used
for power-up sequencing or wherever there is a require-
ment for the module to be switched off. The On/Off
function is provided by the Inhibit (pin 1) control.
The ISR functions normally with Pin 1 open-circuit,
providing a regulated output whenever a valid source
voltage is applied to Vin, (pin 2). When a low-level2
ground signal is applied to pin 1, the regulator output
will be disabled.
Figure 1 shows an application schematic, which details
the typical use of the Inhibit function. Note the discrete
transistor (Q1). The Inhibit control has its own internal
pull-up to +Vin potential. An open-collector or open-
drain device is required to control this pin.
The Inhibit pin control thresholds are given in Table 1.
Equation 1 may be used to determine the approximate
current drawn from the input source, and by Q1 when the
regulator is in the inhibit state.
Table 1; Inhibit Control Requirements
Parameter
Min
Max
Enable (VIH)Vin – 0.5
Open
Disable (VIL)
–0.2V+0.5V
Equation 1
Iinh
=Vin ÷ 10k
± 20%
Notes:
1. Use an open-collector device (preferably a discrete
transistor) for the Inhibit input. A pull-up resistor is not
necessary. To disable the output voltage, the control pin
should be pulled low to less than +0.5VDC.
2. Do not control the Inhibit input with an external DC
voltage. This will lead to erratic operation of the ISR and
may over-stress the regulator.
5. Avoid capacitance greater than 500pF at the Inhibit
control pin. Excessive capacitance at this pin will cause
the ISR to produce a pulse on the output voltage bus at
turn-on.
6. Keep the On/Off transition to less than 10s. This
prevents erratic operation of the ISR, which could cause a
momentary high output voltage.
Figure 1
Turn-On Time:
In the circuit of Figure 1, turning Q1 on applies
a low-voltage to the Inhibit control (pin 1) and disables the
regulator output. Correspondingly, turning Q1 off allows the
Inhibit control pin to be pulled high by its internal pull-up
resistor. The ISR produces a fully regulated output voltage
within 10-msec of the release of the Inhibit control pin. The
actual turn-on time will vary with input voltage, output
load, and the total amount of load capacitance. Figure 2
shows the typical rise in both output voltage and input
current for a PT5502 (2.5V) following the turn-off of Q1 at
time t =0. The waveform was measured with a 5Vdc input
voltage, and 2.5A resistive load.
Figure 2
C2
100
F
+
C1, 1
F
(Optional)
+V
O
COM
+V
IN
COM
Inhibit
Q1
BSS138
PT5502
2
13
4
Vin
V o
GND
INH
-1
0
1
23
456
78
t (milli-secs)
Vo (1V / Div)
IIN (1A / Div)
VINH (5V / Div)