LTC3886 is a new 60V input dual output synchronous step-down DC-DC controller from Linear Technology. It has programmable loop compensation and an I²C-based PMBus interface.
The controller uses a constant frequency, current mode architecture with a programmable output voltage up to 13.8V. The LTC3886 is ideal for demanding environments that require a high input voltage range. These conditions are commonly found in factory automation, industrial, medical, communications, and avionics applications.
The LTC3886 can be configured as dual or single output and can be stacked up to 6 phases to support load currents up to 120A. Phased 2, 3, 4 or 6-phase interleaved clocks reduce input and output ripple, thereby reducing input and output capacitance. The device is supported by a LTpowerPlay software development tool with a graphical user interface (GUI). Its I²C-based serial interface enables system designers and remote operators to command and monitor the system's power status and power consumption. The ability to digitally change power supply parameters reduces time-to-market and downtime, eliminating situations that would normally require physical hardware, circuit, or system BOM modifications. The LTC3886 simplifies system characterization, optimization, and data mining during prototyping, deployment, and field operations.
In addition to supplying power to the load point, the LTC3886 also has configurability and telemetry monitoring functions, which can monitor power and power management parameters through PMBus, which is an open standard digital serial interface protocol based on I2C. The LTC3886's 2-wire serial interface enables the output to be limited, tuned and ramped up and down with a programmable slew rate, with sequential delay times. Input and output voltages as well as input and output currents and temperatures are readable. The device consists of a fast, dual analog control loop, a precision mixed-signal circuit, and an EEPROM, and is available in a 7mm x 8mm QFN-52 package.
To evaluate the performance of the LTC3886, the LTpowerPlay GUI can be downloaded for free. USB to PMBus converters and demo kits are also available. The LTC3886 has a maximum DC output error of ± 0.5% over the entire temperature range, a current readback accuracy of ± 1.5%, an integrated 16-bit delta-sigma ADC and EEPROM, combining first-class analog switching regulator performance with accurate mixed-signal Data acquisition combined. Channels can accurately share current under steady-state and transient conditions. At startup, the output voltage, switching frequency, and channel phase angle assignment can be set via pin-bundling resistors or loaded from internal EEPROM. The LTC3886 has an operating junction temperature range of -40C to 125C.
