Other Parts Discussed in Thread: TPS629210-Q1, TPS629210, TPS629206, TPS629203
Hi
I am designing a power supply for Xbee3 module. Digi's documents recommend to keep switching above 500kHz if using a switcher. Xbee3 module draws 18mA in Rx and 130mA in Tx at 3.3V.
My power source is 12V battery (10V min - 14.8V max).
Best strategy is to drop 12V to 4V with buck and then filter out the ripple with an LDO to 3.3V. But it would be great if I could avoid the extra expense of the LDO and just drop from 12V to 3.3V with the switcher.
RE: TPS62125
Webench shows that if I use an L of 22uH (max recommended L in data sheet), at 18mA Fo = 262kHz, Vout p-p 3.12mV. Efficiency 86.9%
If I custom the webench design with an L of 56uH, at 18mA , Fo = 485kHz, Vout p-p 1.38mV. Efficiency 88.7%. This gets me close to 500kHz with good efficiency and low ripple.
No mention of phase margin in the webench report. How would 56uH effect the stability?
I see that the load transient suffers with 56uH compared to 22uH, but wonder whether the load transient of an LDO would be much better; considering it would also be impacted by the line transient (voltage drop from load transient of the upstream switching supply)
Looking at the efficiency graph, you can see there is a trough at around 28mA (77%) where the switch mode changes from PWM to PFM. Given that the tolerance of the inductor is +/- 20%, in some circumstances it may be possible that a 20% higher value of 68uH may cause the switcher to remain in PWM at 18mA in which case the efficiency would only be around 70%. I wounder how the switcher would behave if operated continuously in that transition region between PWM and PFM modes?
Do you think I should I just use an LDO downstream of the switcher?
Or perhaps I should be looking for something that operates in FPWM, slightly above 500kHz, that would still give me good efficiency at 18mA? Do you know of any?
Cheers, regards Matt.
