TPS2393A
SLUS610 JULY 2004
18
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APPLICATION INFORMATION
Setting the Sense Resistor Value
Due to the currentlimiting action of the internal LCA, the maximum allowable load current for an implementation
is easily programmed by selecting the appropriate sense resistor value. The LCA acts to limit the sense voltage
VI(ISENS) to its internal reference. Once the voltage at the IRAMP pin exceeds approximately 4 V, this limit is
the clamp voltage, VREF_K. Therefore, a maximum sense resistor value can be determined from equation (1).
R
SENSE v
33 mV
IMAX
where:
D RSENSE is the resistor value
D IMAX is the desired current limit
When setting the sense resistor value, it is important to consider two factors, the minimum current that may be
imposed by the TPS2393A, and the maximum load under normal operation of the module. For the first factor,
the specification minimum clamp value is used, as seen in equation (1). This method accounts for the tolerance
in the sourced current limit below the typical level expected (40 mV/RSENSE). (The clamp measurement includes
LCA input offset voltage; therefore, this offset does not have to be factored into the current limit again.) Second,
if the load current varies over a range of values under normal operating conditions, then the maximum load level
must be allowed for by the value of RSENSE. One example of this is when the load is a switching converter, or
brick, which draws higher input current, for a given power output, when the distribution bus is at the low end of
its operating range, with decreasing draw at higher supply voltages. To avoid current-limit operation under
normal loading, some margin should be designed in between this maximum anticipated load and the minimum
current limit level, or IMAX > ILOAD(max), for equation (1).
For example, using a 20-m
sense resistor for a nominal 1-A load application provides a minimum of 650 mA
of overhead for load variance/margin. Typical bulk capacitor charging current during turn-on is 2 A
(40 mV/20 m
).
Setting the Inrush Slew Rate
The TPS2393A enables user-programming of the maximum current slew rate during load start-up events. A
capacitor tied to the IRAMP pin (C1 in the typical application diagram) controls the di/dt rate. Once the sense
resistor value has been established, a value for ramp capacitor CIRAMP, in microfarads, can be determined from
equation (2).
C
IRAMP +
11
100
R
SENSE
di
dt MAX
where:
D RSENSE is the sense resistor value in
D (di/dt)MAX is the desired maximum slew rate in A/s
For example, if the desired slew rate for the typical application shown is 1500 mA/mS, the calculated value for
CIRAMP is about 3700 pF. Selecting the next larger standard value of 3900 pF (as shown in the diagram) provides
some margin for capacitor and sense resistor tolerances.
As described in the Detailed Description section of this datasheet, the TPS2393A initiates ramp capacitor
charging, and consequently, load current di/dt at a reduced rate. This reduced rate applies until the voltage on
the IRAMP pin is about 0.5 V. The maximum di/dt rate, as set by equation (2), is effective once the device has
switched to the 10-
A charging source.
(1)
(2)