10
FN9163.1
August 5, 2005
General Description
The ISL6592 is a digital multi-phase pulse width modulation
controller integrated circuit for use in 2- to 6-phase
synchronous buck converter CPU core supply power
switching regulators. The device is optimized for delivering
voltages from 0.8 to 1.6V at high current levels (120A+) with
programmable PWM switching frequencies between 300kHz
and 1.5MHz. The ISL6592 brings the benefit of digital control
to voltage regulators targeting Intel VRD/VRM 10.x, AMD
VRM 1.05, and similar applications.
The ISL6592 is designed to maximize value to the user by
providing features, monitoring and performance to minimize
the number of required off-chip components, work with a
variety of widely available standard components, and to
accommodate wider device tolerance mismatches than
competing analog controller solutions.
The ISL6592 provides both ease-of-use and flexibility to the
user. Major features include:
Internal Voltage and Temperature Reference - An internal
factory trimmed ±0.5% voltage reference sets the VID
DAC, voltage ADC and current ADC range. In addition, a
proportional-to-absolute-temperature (PTAT) reference is
generated and digitized to serve as the controller
temperature sensor.
Internal Oscillator - Provides a factory trimmed
156.25MHz ±10% clock reference. Fixed and
programmable dividers generate all the needed internal
clocks to configure the controller's switching frequency
and number of active phases.
Dedicated Voltage ADC - A high precision differential input
voltage ADC digitizes the differential remote sense
voltage. An integrated anti-alias filter and ripple frequency
null filter minimize the impact of high frequency noise on
the system.
Multiplexed Current Sense ADC - The average currents
from each phase are sensed as a voltage across the low
side FET using the multiplexed current ADC. Each phase
is sampled at the middle of its cycle, with timing optimized
through a programmable delay line. The internal
temperature reference and external thermistor
temperature are also digitized using the multiplexed
current ADC. Gain and offset of the sensor and ADC are
compensated through either a one time factory calibration,
or through a power-up calibration each time the output
voltage is reset.
Digital Control Loop and AVP - An over-sampled digital
Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) compensator
provides flexible loop compensation with programmable
coefficients. A digital post-filter provides additional phase
lead and/or high frequency filtering to optimize the
transient response and ripple of the system. A high
accuracy Active Voltage Positioning (AVP) loadline is
computed using the calibrated current sense
measurements. The AVP bandwidth is also programmable
to allow it to be optimized for dynamic performance.
Window comparators - Window comparators with
programmable thresholds to be set for overvoltage
protection (OOVP) and high side short (HSS) detection.
Active Transient Response (ATR) - ATR comparators with
programmable thresholds are used to provide fast
response to dynamic load transients, minimizing spike
overshoot and droop undershoot.
Configurable PWM Generators - 2-6 PWM waveforms are
digitally generated ensuring low jitter and high linearity.
PWM outputs are configurable as either single tri-valent
outputs or dual outputs with programmable non-overlap
delay. Phases can be fully overlapped, with programmable
duty cycle limiting.
Integrated NVM - Digital configuration is stored in an
integrated NVM, allowing fully independent (stand-alone)
operation. NVM is fully accessible to user so that a
completely new parameter set can be written. Vendor and
user defined memory locations are provided, allowing
version control and part identification. NVM integrity is
checked every configuration cycle through a cyclic
redundancy check (CRC) comparison.
Serial Interface - GUI software provides easy access to all
configuration, telemetry, and testability features over a 2
wire I
2
C serial interface.
The GUI interface allows full accessibility to regulator
telemetry during system operation including:
Internal Controller Temperature
External (via optional thermistor) System Temperature
Per Phase Current
Total Output Current
Output Voltage
Input Voltage
Configurable latched and unlatched individual fault status
Microprocessor Leakage Current
User defined memory space
Fault reporting and shutdown behavior are also fully
configurable. Two individual fault outputs are provided, with
all faults being independently maskable. The outputs can be
configured as either latched or unlatched, active high or
active low polarity, and CMOS or open drain outputs. The
shutdown operation also allows all faults to be individually
masked and for the shutdown operation to be either latched
or unlatched. Individual status registers allow fault reporting
ISL6592