4-124
TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
CMOS CURRENT MODE
PWM CONTROLLER
TC170
4
3
3.15 CURRENT–
SENSE AMPLIFIER
TC170
VS
–
N
1
IS
VS=ISN
+
–
+
Figure 5. External Clock Synchronization
Figure 4. Master/Slave Parallel Operation
Figure 3 Transformer Isolated Current Sense
Undervoltage Lockout
The undervoltage lockout circuit forces the TC170 out-
puts OFF (low) if the supply voltage is below 7.7V. Threshold
hysteresis is 0.75V and guarantees clean, jitter-free turn-on
and turn-off points. The hysteresis also reduces capacitive
filtering requirements at the PWM controller supply input
(pin 15).
Circuit Synchronization
Current-mode-controlled power supplies can be oper-
ated in parallel with a common load. Paralleled converters
will equally share the load current. Voltage-mode control-
lers unequally share the load current, decreasing system
reliability.
Two or more TC170 controllers can be slaved to-
gether for parallel operation. Circuits can operate from a
master TC170 internal oscillator with an external driver
(Figure 4). Devices can also be slaved to an external
oscillator (Figure 5). Disable internal slave device oscilla-
tors by grounding pin 8. Slave controllers derive an oscilla-
tor from the bidirectional synchronization output signal at
pin 10.
Pin 10 is bidirectional in that it is intended to be both a
sync output and input. This is accomplished by making the
output driver "weak." This is advantageous in that it elimi-
nates an additional pin from the package but does not
enable the device to directly drive another device. In order
to make it an effective driver, a buffer is required (Figure 4).
In order to use pin 10 as a sync input, it is necessary to
overcome the internal driver. This requires a pulse with an
amplitude equal to V
IN
. Since V
IN
must be above 8.25V for
the undervoltage lockout to be disabled, a CMOS or open-
collector TTL driver should be used.
MASTER
RO
SYNC
CMPTR
7
SLAVE
9
8
9
8
2
10
7
1/2 TC4427
VDD
TC170
10
CO
VREF
CO
RO
CMPTR
SYNC
TC170
1/2
TC4427
TC170
TC170
SYNC
VREF
SYNC
EXTERNAL*
OSCILLATOR
CO
2
9
2
9
10
15
15
8
10
VS
+
VDD
*PULSE WIDTH OF
OSCILLATOR IS = TD
CO
VREF
RO
RO
VIN
VIN