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Application Notes

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  Implementing Robust PMBus System Software for the LTC3880 &mdash AN135
  PDF, 126 Kb, File published: Apr 6, 2012
  The LTC3880 is a dual output PolyPhase step-down DC/DC controller with integrated digital power system management. The LTC3880 can easily be controlled through a PMBus interface, which builds upon I2C/IIC at speeds up to 400kHz. System telemetry data can be obtained quickly and painlessly with simple polling functions. This exposes all important and critical information to the system developer such as the voltage and current readings for the input and both outputs, temperature, fault conditions, general status information, and more.
  Extract from the document

  Application Note 135
  April 2012
  Implementing Robust PMBus System Software for the
  LTC3880
  Nick Vergunst
  INTRODUCTION
  The LTCВ®3880 is a dual output PolyPhaseВ® step-down DC/DC
  controller with integrated digital power system management. The LTC3880 can easily be controlled through a
  PMBus interface, which builds upon I2C/IIC at speeds up
  to 400kHz. System telemetry data can be obtained quickly
  and painlessly with simple polling functions. This exposes
  all important and critical information to the system developer such as the voltage and current readings for the input
  and both outputs, temperature, fault conditions, general
  status information, and more.
  This application note discusses the design requirements
  in regards to implementing robust firmware capable of
  interacting with the LTC3880.
  DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
  This document is broad in scope. If you already feel comfortable with I2C/SMBus/PMBus and the transaction structure
  for the command set, then you may wish to skip ahead to
  the Communicating Robustly with the LTC3880 section.
  REFERENCE DESIGN OVERVIEW
  The PMBus master design used in this application note …

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  Accurate Temperature Sensing with an External P-N Junction &mdash AN137
  PDF, 540 Kb, File published: Sep 20, 2012
  Many Linear Technology devices use an external PNP transistor to sense temperature. Common examples are LTC3880, LTC3883 and LTC2974. Accurate temperature sensing depends on proper PNP selection, layout, and device configuration. This application note reviews the theory of temperature sensing and gives practical advice on implementation.
  Extract from the document

  Application Note 137
  May 2012
  Accurate Temperature Sensing with an External P-N
  Junction
  Michael Jones
  Introduction Temperature Sensing Theory Many Linear Technology devices use an external PNP
  transistor to sense temperature. Common examples are
  LTC3880, LTC3883 and LTC2974. Accurate temperature
  sensing depends on proper PNP selection, layout, and
  device configuration. This application note reviews the
  theory of temperature sensing and gives practical advice
  on implementation. Linear Technology devices use an external bipolar transistor p-n junction to measure temperature. The relationship
  between forward voltage, current, and temperature is: Why should you worry about implementing temperature
  sensing? Can’t you just put the sensor near your inductor
  and lay out your circuit any way you want? Unfortunately,
  poor routing can sacrifice temperature measurement
  performance and compensation. The purpose of this application note is to allow you the opportunity to get it right
  the first time, so you don’t have to change the layout after
  your board is fabricated.
  Why Use Temperature Sensing?
  Some Linear Technology devices measure internal and
  external temperature. Internal temperature is used to
  protect the device by shutting down operation or locking …

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  Overview of the EEPROM in LTC PSM Devices &mdash AN145
  PDF, 3.0 Mb, File published: May 10, 2014
  Extract from the document

  Application Note 145
  July 2015
  Overview of the EEPROM in LTC PSM Devices
  Nick Vergunst Introduction convenient List Of All Options Linear TechnologyВ® has a large family of devices that
  provide a great deal of power and configurability for all
  applications. These parts additionally provide onboard
  nonvolatile memory (NVM) in the form of EEPROM to
  store and recall configuration parameters and on some
  devices provide a fault log and user scratch pad. Option 1A. Manual programming with LTpowerPlayв„ў
  Built In Programming Utility (PC->NVM) These Power System Management(PSM) devices’ architectures allow them to power up and load the desired
  configuration parameters from this NVM autonomously
  with no I2C or firmware interaction required.
  A common question customers ask is, “Now that I have
  settled on a particular configuration, how do I program
  this configuration into the chip’s onboard nonvolatile
  memory (NVM).”
  Some available options are presented in rough order of
  increasing complexity throughout the document.
  NOTE: Linear Technology strongly recommends
  Option 1 for preproduction prototyping, and
  OptionВ 2, Option 3 or Option 4 for higher volume
  production. Option 5 is a convenient method to
  program a small quantity of loose ICs prior to board …

• Download
  Power System Management Addressing &mdash AN152
  PDF, 169 Kb, File published: Jul 12, 2016
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  Application Note 152
  July 2016
  Power System Management Addressing
  Michael Jones Introduction
  The foundation of all PMBus applications, including LTCВ®
  Power System Management (PSM), is the ability for the
  PMBus master (system host) to communicate with all
  PMBus slaves (PSM controllers, PSM managers, PSM
  ВµModulesВ®, and PMBus monolithic devices) on the bus.
  Every slave on the bus must have a unique address that
  does not conflict with other devices.
  The bus master must also be able to communicate with
  PSM slaves in a few less than obvious situations: Address discovery Global actions Multiphase rails Invalid NVM Bus MUXes
  Device addressing is achieved with a combination of base
  registers plus external address select (ASEL) pins, as well
  as special global, rail, ARA, and other special addresses.
  This Application Note will present the fundamental design
  principles underlying the LTC PSM family, details on product
  family differences, as well practical examples and advice.
  Special cases, such as invalid NVM, will also be discussed.
  The benefit to you is a design that works on day one, and
  works even when things go wrong. For example, if you
  are writing to the NVM with LTpowerPlayв„ў, and power is …

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  Linduino for Power System Management &mdash AN153
  PDF, 1.3 Mb, File published: Feb 24, 2016
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  Application Note 153
  July 2016
  Linduino for Power System Management
  Michael Jones
  INTRODUCTION LTC3880, and the industry standards for I2C/SMBus/
  PMBus. Most Power System Management designs follow a set
  and forget model. Setup and debug of Power System
  Management (PSM) devices is simple with LTpowerPlayВ®
  and when combined with a bulk programing solution, there
  is no need for firmware. However, many large systems
  require a Board Management Controller (BMC), begging
  the question: “What can firmware do for PSM?” Linduino PSM hardware consists of a Linduino (DC2026),
  and a shield to connect (DC2294) the I2C pins of the
  Linduino to an PMBus/SMBus/I2C Bus of a demo board
  or product board. The foundation of PSM firmware is PMBus; the foundation
  of PMBus is SMBus; and the foundation of SMBus is I2C.
  Building a BMC that adds value with PSM firmware requires
  some level of knowledge of each protocol, or a pre-existing
  library that frees the programmer from the details. For optimal learning, start with a DC2026 (Linduino),
  DC2294 (Shield), DC1962 (Power Stick), and a Total
  Phase Beagle (I2C Sniffer). This allows programming,
  debugging, and learning of controllers (LTC388X) and
  managers (LTC297X). The LinduinoВ® libraries handle each protocol layer, and …

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  Fault Log Decoding with Linduino PSM &mdash AN155
  PDF, 230 Kb, File published: Jan 26, 2017
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  Application Note 155
  January 2017
  Fault Log Decoding with Linduino PSM
  Michael Jones Introduction
  LTC power system management devices are PMBus controlled point-of-load converters (LTCВ®388X) and power
  system managers (LTC297X). All LTC power system management (PSM) devices have a fault log that is written
  to EEPROM when there is a fault. Once the fault log is
  written, fault logs are no longer generated until they are
  re-enabled, typically after the data has been read back.
  LTpowerPlayВ® helps debug a system by reading the fault
  log, decoding it into human-readable format, displaying it
  and saving it to a file. A system with a board management
  controller (BMC), can also read the fault log from EEPROM
  and re-enable it. Firmware can store, transfer over a
  network and decode fault data read from a PSM device.
  The LinduinoВ® Sketchbook contains an example sketch
  that reads fault logs, along with the supporting libraries
  for PMBus and fault log decoding.
  This application note describes the basics of reading and
  decoding fault logs using Linduino.
  Hardware
  The hardware used for this application note is:
  1. DC2026 (Linduino) …

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  In Flight Update with Linduino &mdash AN166
  PDF, 1.1 Mb, File published: Apr 10, 2017
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  Application Note 166
  April 2017
  In Flight Update with Linduino
  Michael Jones
  INTRODUCTION TO INFLIGHT UPDATE INFLIGHT UPDATE PROCESS Inflight Update is a method of modifying the stored settings of LTC Power System Management (PSM) devices,
  including application of the new settings, to a live system1 . The general dataflow of Infight Update is a simple linear
  progression: Inflight Update is a two-stage process: EEPROM is modified
  first, and then EEPROM is copied to RAM. During stage
  one, a Board Management Controller sends new settings
  directly to the EEPROM via PMBus while the devices are
  operating normally, without impacting operation. During
  stage two, all devices switch to the new configuration via
  a reset or a power cycle2 .
  Decoupling “programming settings” from “application of
  settings” allows the EEPROM programming mechanism
  to stage, validate, and recover from programming failure
  without interruption of delivered power. This minimizes
  system downtime because all rails are power cycled only
  once per update.
  Inflight Update solves several technical and business
  problems. Fast product development increases the probability of field problems. For example, the supervisors
  might require more margin to reduce false positives.
  An FPGA image update might require small changes to …

Articles

• Download
  Dual Output DC/DC Controller Combines Digital Power System Management with Analog Control Loop for ±0.5% VOUT Accuracy &mdash LT Journal
  PDF, 3.8 Mb, File published: Jan 20, 2012
  Extract from the document

  January 2012 I N T H I S I S S U E integer-N synthesizer
  with integrated VCO in a
  4mm Г— 5mm package 9 supercapacitor-based
  power supply ride-through
  system 15 ultralow-EMI, ВµModule Volume 21 Number 4 Dual Output DC/DC Controller
  Combines Digital Power System
  Management with Analog Control
  Loop for В±0.5% VOUT Accuracy
  Gregory Manlove regulator is EN55022 class
  B certified 20 UMTS base station receiver
  in half-inch square 23 negative voltage diode-OR
  controller tolerates inputs
  beyond 300V 30 Though power management is critical to the reliable operation of
  modern electronic systems, voltage regulators are perhaps the last
  remaining “blind spot” in today’s digitally managed systems. Few
  regulators have the means for direct configuration or monitoring
  of key power system operating parameters. As a result, power
  designers who want complete digital control must use a mixed bag
  of sequencers, microcontrollers and voltage supervisors to program
  basic regulator start-up and safety functions. Digitally programmable
  DC/DC converters are available, most notably those with VID output
  voltage control designed for VRM core
  power supplies, but these specifically …

Model Line

Manufacturer's Classification

• Power Management > Switching Regulator > Step-Down (Buck) Regulators > Multiple Output Buck | External Power Switch Buck Controllers
• Power Management > Switching Regulator > Digitally Programmable Regulators
• Monitor, Control and Protection > Digital Power System Management > DC/DC Regulator With Power System Management