RT9020
7
DS9020-04 April 2011 www.richtek.com
Applications Information
Like any low-dropout regulator, the external capacitors used
with the RT9020 must be carefully selected for regulator
stability and performance. The recommended input and
output capacitors should be 1μF or greater X7R/X5R
ceramic.The input capacitor must be located a distance
not more than 0.5 inch from the input pin of the IC and
returned to a clean analog ground. The capacitor with larger
value and lower ESR (equivalent series resistance) provides
better PSRR and line-transient response.
The output capacitor must meet both requirements for
minimum amount of capacitance and ESR in all LDOs
application. The RT9020 is designed specifically to work
with low ESR ceramic output capacitor in space-saving
and performance consideration. Using a ceramic capacitor
whose value is at least 1μF with ESR > 20mΩ on the
RT9020 output ensures stability. The RT9020 still works
well with output capacitor of other types due to the wide
stable ESR range. Figure 1. shows the curves of allowable
ESR range as a function of load current for various output
capacitor values. Output capacitor of larger capacitance
can reduce noise and improve load transient response,
stability, and PSRR. The output capacitor should be located
not more than 0.5 inch from the VOUT pin of the RT9020
and returned to a clean analog ground.
Enable
The RT9020 goes into shutdown mode when the EN pin
is in a logic low condition. During this condition, the
RT9020 has an EN pin to turn on or turn off regulator,
When the EN pin is logic high, the regulator will be turned
on. The supply current in shutdown mode is as low as
0.7μA typically. The EN pin may be directly tied to VIN to
keep the part on.
PSRR
The power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) is defined as the
gain from the input to output divided by the gain from the
supply to the output. The PSRR is found to be
⎟
⎠
⎞
⎜
⎝
⎛
×= ΔSupply
Error ΔGain
log20 PSRR
Note that when heavy load measuring, Δsupply will cause
Δtemperature. And Δtemperature will cause Δoutput
voltage change. So the heavy load PSRR measuring
includes temperature effect.
Current limit
The RT9020 contains an independent current limiter, which
monitors and controls the pass transistor's gate voltage,
limiting the output current to 0.7A (typ.). The output can
be shorted to ground indefinitely without damaging the
part.
Thermal Considerations
Thermal protection limits power dissipation in RT9020.
When the operation junction temperature exceeds 170°C,
the OTP circuit starts the thermal shutdown function and
turns the pass element off. The pass element turn on again
after the junction temperature cools by 30°C.
For continuous operation, do not exceed absolute
maximum operation junction temperature 125°C. The
power dissipation definition in device is :
PD = (VIN − VOUT) x IOUT + VIN x IQ
The maximum power dissipation depends on the thermal
resistance of IC package, PCB layout, the rate of
surroundings airflow and temperature difference between
junction to ambient. The maximum power dissipation can
be calculated by following formula :
PD(MAX) = ( TJ(MAX) − TA ) /θJA
Figure 1
Region of Stable COUT ESR vs. Load Current
0.001
0.01
0.1
1
10
100
0 100 200 300 400 500
Load Current (mA)
Region of Stable COUT ESR (Ω)
RT9020-33PB, VIN = 5V
CIN = COUT = 1μF/X7R
Unstable Range
Unstable Range by Simulation
Stable Range