LP3962, LP3965

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SNVS066H – MAY 2000 – REVISED APRIL 2013

CAPACITOR CHARACTERISTICS

CERAMIC: For values of capacitance in the 10 to 100 µF range, ceramics are usually larger and more costly

than tantalums but give superior AC performance for bypassing high frequency noise because of very low ESR

(typically less than 10 m

Ω). However, some dielectric types do not have good capacitance characteristics as a

function of voltage and temperature.

Z5U and Y5V dielectric ceramics have capacitance that drops severely with applied voltage. A typical Z5U or

Y5V capacitor can lose 60% of its rated capacitance with half of the rated voltage applied to it. The Z5U and Y5V

also exhibit a severe temperature effect, losing more than 50% of nominal capacitance at high and low limits of

the temperature range.

X7R and X5R dielectric ceramic capacitors are strongly recommended if ceramics are used, as they typically

maintain a capacitance range within ±20% of nominal over full operating ratings of temperature and voltage. Of

course, they are typically larger and more costly than Z5U/Y5U types for a given voltage and capacitance.

TANTALUM: Solid Tantalum capacitors are recommended for use on the output because their typical ESR is

very close to the ideal value required for loop compensation. They also work well as input capacitors if selected

to meet the ESR requirements previously listed.

Tantalums also have good temperature stability: a good quality Tantalum will typically show a capacitance value

that varies less than 10-15% across the full temperature range of 125°C to

−40°C. ESR will vary only about 2X

going from the high to low temperature limits.

The increasing ESR at lower temperatures can cause oscillations when marginal quality capacitors are used (if

the ESR of the capacitor is near the upper limit of the stability range at room temperature).

ALUMINUM: This capacitor type offers the most capacitance for the money. The disadvantages are that they are

larger in physical size, not widely available in surface mount, and have poor AC performance (especially at

higher frequencies) due to higher ESR and ESL.

Compared by size, the ESR of an aluminum electrolytic is higher than either Tantalum or ceramic, and it also

varies greatly with temperature. A typical aluminum electrolytic can exhibit an ESR increase of as much as 50X

when going from 25°C down to

−40°C.

It should also be noted that many aluminum electrolytics only specify impedance at a frequency of 120 Hz, which

indicates they have poor high frequency performance. Only aluminum electrolytics that have an impedance

specified at a higher frequency (between 20 kHz and 100 kHz) should be used for the LP396X. Derating must be

applied to the manufacturer's ESR specification, since it is typically only valid at room temperature.

Any applications using aluminum electrolytics should be thoroughly tested at the lowest ambient operating

temperature where ESR is maximum.

PCB LAYOUT

Good PC layout practices must be used or instability can be induced because of ground loops and voltage drops.

The input and output capacitors must be directly connected to the input, output, and ground pins of the LP3962/5

using traces which do not have other currents flowing in them Kelvin connect).

pins. The regulator ground pin should be connected to the external circuit ground so that the regulator and its

capacitors have a "single point ground".

It should be noted that stability problems have been seen in applications where "vias" to an internal ground plane

were used at the ground points of the LP3962/5 IC and the input and output capacitors. This was caused by

varying ground potentials at these nodes resulting from current flowing through the ground plane. Using a single

point ground technique for the regulator and it's capacitors fixed the problem.

leads to these pins so there is no voltage drop in series with the input and output capacitors.

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