Datasheet | Intel® Enpirion® Power Solutions: EP53A7xQI
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FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
Synchronous DC-DC Step-Down PowerSoC
The EP53A7xQI requires only 2 small MLCC capacitors and an 0201 resistor for a complete DC-DC converter
solution. The device integrates MOSFET switches, PWM controller, Gate-drive, compensation, and inductor
into a tiny 3mm x 3mm x 1.1mm QFN package. Advanced package design, along with the high level of
integration, provides very low output ripple and noise. The EP53A7xQI uses voltage mode control for high
noise immunity and load matching to advanced ≤90nm loads. A 3-pin VID allows the user to choose from
one of 8 output voltage settings. The EP53A7xQI comes with two VID output voltage ranges. The
EP53A7HQI provides VOUT settings from 1.8V to 3.3V, the EP53A7LQI provides VID settings from 0.8V to
1.5V, and also has an external resistor divider option to program output setting over the 0.6V to VIN-0.5V
range. The EP53A7xQI provides the industry’s highest power density of any 1A DCDC converter solution.
The key enabler of this revolutionary integration is Altera Enpirion’s proprietary power MOSFET technology.
The advanced MOSFET switches are implemented in deep-submicron CMOS to supply very low switching
loss at high switching frequencies and to allow a high level of integration. The semiconductor process allows
seamless integration of all switching, control, and compensation circuitry.
The proprietary magnetics design provides high-density/high-value magnetics in a very small footprint.
Altera Enpirion magnetics are carefully matched to the control and compensation circuitry yielding an
optimal solution with assured performance over the entire operating range.
Protection features include under-voltage lock-out (UVLO), over-current protection (OCP), short circuit
protection, and thermal overload protection.
Integrated Inductor
The EP53A7xQI utilizes a proprietary low loss integrated inductor. The integration of the inductor greatly
simplifies the power supply design process. The integrated inductor provides the optimal solution to the
complexity, output ripple, and noise that plague low power DC-DC converter design.
Voltage Mode Control
The EP53A7xQI utilizes an integrated type III compensation network. Voltage mode control is inherently
impedance matched to the sub 90nm process technology that is used in today’s advanced ICs. Voltage
mode control also provides a high degree of noise immunity at light load currents so that low ripple and high
accuracy are maintained over the entire load range. The very high switching frequency allows for a very wide
control loop bandwidth and hence excellent transient performance.
Light Load Mode (LLM) Operation
The EP53A7xQI uses a proprietary light load mode to provide high efficiency in the low load operating
condition. When the LLM pin is high, the device is in automatic LLM/PWM mode. When the LLM pin is low,
the device is in PWM mode. In automatic LLM/PWM mode, when a light load condition is detected, the
device will (1) step VOUT up by approximately 1.5% above the nominal operating output voltage setting, VNOM,
and then (2) shut down unnecessary circuitry, and (3) monitor VOUT. When VOUT falls below VNOM, the device
will repeat (1), (2), and (3). The voltage step up, or pre-positioning, improves transient droop when a load
transient causes a transition from LLM mode to PWM mode. If a load transient occurs, causing VOUT to fall
below the threshold VMIN, the device will exit LLM operation and begin normal PWM operation. Figure 6
demonstrates VOUT behavior during transition into and out of LLM operation.
01543 February 21, 2019 Rev F