Application Report

SLVA319C – April 2009 – Revised June 2012

How to Design a Boost Converter With the TPS61170

Jeff Falin ...................................................................................... PMP - DC/DC Low-Power Converters

Design Example
The following design example helps a user design a 12-V to 24-V power supply using the TPS61170
boost converter integrated circuit (IC). Figure 1 shows the power supply circuit.

a 2b

Figure 1. 12-V to 24-V Power Supply

Table 1 gives the performance specifications for the reference design.

Table 1. Performance Specifications for the Reference Design

PARAMETER CONDITIONS MIN NOM MAX UNIT
INPUT and AMBIENT CHARACTERISTICS
VIN Input voltage 11 12 13 V
FS Switching frequency 1.0 1.2 1.5 MHz
TA Ambient temperature 60 °C
OUTPUT CHARACTERISTICS
VOUT Output voltage 23 24 25 V
Load regulation VIN = 12 V, 10 mA < IO < 300 mA 1% ΔVO/ΔIO
VRIPPLE Output voltage ripple IO = 200 mA 50 mVpp
IO Output current 1 300 mA
η Efficiency IO = 300 mA 92%
TRANSIENT RESPONSE
ΔITRAN Load step 250 mA
ΔITRAN/Δt Load slew rate 0.20 A/μs
ΔVTRAN VO undershoot 500 mV

Mathcad is a trademark of Parametric Technology Corporation.

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1. DUTY CYCLE: Use data sheet (SLVS789) Equation 5 to estimate the maximum duty cycle, which
occurs at minimum input voltage. This value cannot exceed the IC's maximum duty cycle per the
datasheet. ¯
VOUT - VIN(MIN) 24 V + 11 V
D(MAX) = = = 55%
VOUT 24 V (1)
2. IOUT(MAX) and IIN(DC): First, use data sheet Equation 4 to determine whether the internally current-limited
TPS61170 can provide the desired output current.
At IOUT(MAX), the current through the switch hits the switch's current limit, ILIM. Expressed mathematically,
the maximum average (DC) input current, IIN(DC-MAX), plus 1/2 the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current,
IP, equals ILIM, so IIN(DC-MAX) = ILIM - IP/2 at IOUT(MAX). But, for stable power supply operation and to
minimize EMI, the IP must be no more than a fraction, KIND = 20-40%, of IIN(DC), so IIN(DC-MAX) = ILIM - (KIND
× IIN(DC-MAX)/2. Solving for IIN(DC-MAX) gives IIN(DC-MAX) = ILIM/(1 + KIND/2) at IOUT(MAX). Assuming estimated
efficiency ηest = 92% at VIN(MIN) = 11 V and KIND = 0.4,

(1 + KIND/2) ´ VOUT 0.4/2 (2)

Because the application does not require the maximum output current computed by Equation 2, simply
use data sheet Equation 6 to find IIN(DC) at the estimated efficiency and desired output current, IOUT.
IIN(DC) =VOUT x IOUT / (VIN(min) x 0.92) = 24 V x 0.3 A / (11 V x 0.92) = 0.71 A
3. INDUCTOR: After solving data sheet Equation 3 for L , the designer substituted fS(MIN) = 1 MHz, the
Schottky diode's forward voltage, Vf =0.5 V, Equation 3, VIN(MIN) = 11 V and IP = 0.4 × 0.6 A to find the
minimum L required to keep IP = KIND × IIN_DC.

[ ´ ]´
21.3 m ® m
´ ´ . ´ 0.71 A
11 V 11 V (3)
The designer selected the closest standard value, which is 22 μH. When selecting an inductor, the two
additional key specifications are its DC resistance (DCR) and its current rating, which is the lower of
either its saturation current or its current for 40°C temperature rise. For this lower power converter,
choosing an inductor with DCR less than 200 mΩ minimizes these losses. The inductor current rating
must be higher than IIN(DC) + IP/2 = 0.71 A + (0.4 × 0.71 A) / 2 = 0.85 A. The designer selected SD6020-
220 from Cooper, capable of 0.9 A with 122-mΩ DCR.
4. FEEDBACK RESISTORS: Use data sheet Equation 2 to size the feedback resistors for the required
output voltage. Although the data sheet recommends 10 kΩ as an optimum value for R2, larger or
smaller values can be used at the risk of noise being injected into FB or higher current lost through the
FB resistors, respectively. After first trying 10 kΩ, the designer selected R2 = 10.5 kΩ so that R1
computes close to a standard resistor value:
æ V ö æ 24 ö
R1 = R2 ´ ç OUT - 1 ÷ = 10.5 k W ´ ç - 1÷ = 195 kW ® 196 kW
è 1.229 V ø è 1.229 V ø (4)
5. SCHOTTKY DIODE: Even with an ideal printed-circuit board layout containing short traces to minimize
stray inductance and capacitance, the switching node of the boost converter may exhibit ringing up to
30% higher than the output voltage. Therefore, the designer selected a 30-V-rated diode to
accommodate such ringing. The designer also selected a diode with a thermal rating that is high
enough to accommodate its power dissipation, which is approximately PD(DIODE) = IOUT × Vf = 300 mA ×
0.5 V = 150 mW.
6. OUTPUT CAPACITORS: Use data sheet Equation 12 and the transient specification to size the output
capacitance.
Assuming a ceramic output capacitor with negligible ESR and output ripple specification VRIPPLE = 50
mVpp, data sheet Equation 12 indicates that the minimum output capacitance be
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(VOUT - VIN ) ´ IOUT (24 V - 12 V) ´ 0.300 A

COUT = = = 3 mF
VOUT ´ FS ´ VRIPPLE 24 V ´ 1.0 MHz ´ 50 mV (5)
If a large ESR capacitor is used, then there is additional output ripple equal to VRIPPLE_ESR = IOUT × ESR.
To meet the load transient specification and assuming a control loop bandwidth fBW = 30 kHz,
Equation 6 gives
ΔITRAN 250 mA
COUT = = = 2.6 m F
2p ´ fBW ´ D VTRAN 2 ´ p ´ 30 kHz ´ 500 mV (6)
The loop bandwidth assumption of 30 kHz may have to be modified later. The designer selected C2 =
2 × 2.2 μF, 50-V output capacitors (Figure 1).
7. COMPENSATING THE CONTROL LOOP: Data sheet equations 7 through 11 can be combined to
give a simple mathematical model of the power supply's small signal control loop, GT(s).
æ s ö æ s ö
ç 1+ ÷ ´ ç 1- ÷
1.229 V VIN ´ ROUT è 2 ´ π ´ ¦ Z ø è 2 ´ p ´ fRHPZ ø
GT (s) = ´ GEA ´ 6 MW ´ ´
VOUT VOUT ´ R SENSE ´ 2 æ s ö æ s ö
ç 1+ ÷ ´ ç 1+ ÷
è 2 ´ p ´ ¦P1 ø è 2 ´ p ´ ¦ P2 ø
Where

2 2
¦P2 = = = 905 Hz
2p ´ R OUT ´ C2 2p ´ 80 W ´ 2 ´ 2.2 m F

2 2
ROUT æ Vin ö 80 W æ 12 ö
¦RHPZ = ´ ç ÷ = ´ç = 136 kHz
2p ´ L è Vout ø 2p ´ 22 m H è 24 ÷ø

1
¦P1 =
2 p ´ 6 MW ´ C3

1
¦Z =
2p ´ R3 ´ C3 (7)
GEA is the amplifier transconductance and can be found in the data sheet electrical specifications table
and ROUT = VOUT/IOUT. For current mode boost power supplies, the inductor is not part of the control
loop, and the output capacitor sets the dominant pole, fP2. If the RHPZ is high enough in frequency
(i.e., L is not too large), simply setting the compensation zero, fZ equal to the dominant pole, fP2,
stabilizes the loop. Assuming R3 = 10 kΩ per the data sheet recommendation and RSENSE = 200 mΩ,
its approximate maximum value, setting fz = fP2 gives C3 = 17.6 nF which is replaced by the standard
value of 15 nF. Figure 2 shows the Mathcad™ gain and phase of the power stage, GT(s), with s = j × 2
× π × f.

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120 180

90 135
Phase
60 90

30 45
Gain(GT(s))

Phase(GT(s))
Gain
0 0

-30 -45

-60 -90

-90 -135

-120 -180
3 4 5 6
1 10 100 1x10 1x10 1x10 1x10
f - Frequency - Hz

Figure 2. Total Loop Gain and Phase With R3 = 10 kΩ and C3 = 15 nF

Although the loop is stable with almost 90 degrees of phase margin and small signal control loop
bandwidth, fBW, of 20 kHz, components R3 and C3 are not optimized to give the highest bandwidth,
and therefore the smallest output capacitance to meet the load transient requirement. In fact,
maximizing the loop bandwidth using this method requires iteratively increasing R3 and/or decreasing
C3 to meet the load transient specification.
By separating the power stage and error amplifier components from data sheet equations 7 through
11, the designer can directly size R3 and C3 for a given fBW without an interactive, trial and error
process. GPW gives the power stage small signal transfer function.
æ s ö
ç 1- ÷
ROUT ´ (VIN ) è 2 ´ p ´ fRHPZ ø
GPW (s) = ´ ´ He(s)
2 ´ RSENSE ´ VOUT s
1+
2 ´ p ´ ¦ P2 (8)
Equation 8 ignores the ESR zero, fZ, because low ESR ceramic output capacitors produce a zero at
frequencies above interest. If tantalum or aluminum electrolytic output capacitors are used, then an
additional zero created by the output capacitor and ESR must be included in equation 8 in the form
fZESR = 1+s/(2×π×ESR×C2). The simplest way to handle this potentially low frequency zero is to cancel
it with a pole by connecting an appropriately sized capacitor from COMP to ground. Usually, the stray
board capacitance or an actual capacitor in the 10pF range is used to produce a high frequency pole
that roles off the loop gain following the RHPZ. But, if this capacitance, C6 on the EVM, is sized such
that ESR × C2 ≉ R3 × C6, assuming C6 << C3, then the ESR zero's effect will be nullified and the
design method in this application note is still applicable. In rare cases, fZESR might be low enough in
frequency to cancel fP2 and eliminate the need for R3 and C3. In all cases, a 0.1uF-10uF ceramic
output capacitor in parallel with the large high ESR output capacitor is recommended to reduce the
output ripple.
He(s) models the inductor current sampling effect as well as the slope compensation (SE) effect on the
small signal response.
1
He(s) =
éæ S ö ù
s ´ ê ç 1+ E ÷ ´ (1 - D) - 0.5 ú
ëê è SN ø ûú s2
1+ +
¦ SW ( p ´ ¦ SW )
2
(9)
Where the natural and externally added slopes are

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VOUT + VF - VIN
SN = ´ RSENSE
L (10)
A
42000
SE = F
(1 - D ) (11)
With ROUT = 24 V/0.300 A = 80 Ω and RSENSE = 200 mΩ, Figure 2 shows the Mathcad™ gain and phase
of the power stage, GPW(s), with s = j × 2 × π × f.
60 180

40 Phase 120
Gain

20 60
Gain(GPW(s))

Phase(GPW(s))
8
0 0

-20 -60

-40 -120

-60 - -180
3 4 5 6
1 10 100 1x10 1x10 1x10 1x10
f - Frequency - Hz

Figure 3. Power Stage Gain and Phase

To prevent switching noise or gain fluctuations due to changes in nonmeasured parameters from causing
small signal instability, conventional wisdom recommends that the crossover frequency, fBW, be kept below
the lower FS(MIN)/5 = 200 kHz or fRHPZ/3 = 45.3 kHz. In section 6, the designer chose fBW = 30 kHz.
Therefore, the compensation gain, KCOMP, and power stage gain at the crossover frequency must be zero,
or KCOMP(fBW) + 20log(GPW(fBW)) = 0, so KCOMP(fBW) = -20log(GPW(fBW) = –8 dB as illustrated by the orange
dashed line in Figure 2. Using Type II compensation and finding GEAmax= 400 μmho in the data sheet,
Equation 12 computes the value of R3 to give KCOMP(fBW) = –15 dB, rounded up to the closest standard
value.
KCOMP ( ¦ C ) -9dB
10 20dB 10 20dB
R3 @ = = 17.3 kW ® 17.4 k W
R2 10.5 k W
GEA ´ 400 mmho ´
R2 + R1 196 kW + 10.5 kW (12)
From Equation 7, the designer set fZ ~= fBW/10 = 3 kHz for maximum phase boost at the crossover point
and solved for C3. The answer was rounded down to the closest standard value.
1 1
C3 @ = = 3.04 nF ® 2700 pF
2 p ´ R3 ´ ¦ Z 2 p ´ 17.4 kΩ ´ 3 kHz (13)
Figure 4 shows the Mathcad™ plot of T(s) = GPW(s) × HEA(s)

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120 180

90 135

60 Phase 90

Gain(GT(s)) 30 45

Phase(GT(s))
0 Gain 0

-30 -45

-60 -90

-90 -135

-120 -180
3 4 5 6
1 10 100 1x10 1x10 1x10 1x10
f - Frequency - Hz

Figure 4. Total Loop Gain and Phase With R3 = 17.4 kΩ and C3 = 2700 pF

Figure 5 shows the loop gain and phase as measured on a Venable Gain Phase Analyzer. The measured
fBW is closer to 40 kHz, slightly higher than the designed and simulated 30 kHz. The phase margin is
slightly above 60° as expected.
60 180
Gain

Phase Phase
Gain

-60 -180
100 f - Frequency - Hz 1M

Figure 5. Measured Loop Gain and Phase

Figure 6 shows the transient response for a 250-mA load step. The ΔVTRAN droop of 400 mV is well below
the 500 mV specification. This performance is not unexpected due to the over-sized output capacitance
and wider than designed loop bandwidth.

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ILOAD

100 mA/div

VOUTac
200 mV/div

50 µA/div

Figure 6. Load Transient Response

Figure 7 shows the efficiency.

100

95

90
Efficiency - %

VI = 12 V
85

80

75

70
0 100 200 300 400 500
IO - Output Current - mA

Figure 7. Efficiency

Figure 8 shows the load regulation, which is well within the 1% specification

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Load Regulation

24.50
24.40
Vout - Output Voltage - V

24.30
24.20
24.10
24.00 Vin=12V
23.90
23.80
23.70
23.60
23.50
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Iout - Output Current - mA

Figure 8. Load Regulation

Figure 9 shows typical operating waveforms.

Figure 9. Operation Including VRIPPLE at VIN = 12 V and IOUT=200 mA

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The preceding design steps are applicable to any current-mode, control-based boost converter.

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