Step Down 2 click

The Step Down 2 click is a Click board™ equipped with the L6986HTR, a synchronous step-down switching regulator with operating input voltages from 4V to 38V and output voltage adjustability ranges from 0.85 V to VIN. Because of the main possibilities its features offer, the Step Down 2 click is ideally used for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), decentralized intelligent nodes, sensors, and low noise applications (LNM).

The Step Down 2 click is supported by a mikroSDK compliant library, which includes functions that simplify software development. This Click board™ comes as a fully tested product, ready to be used on a system equipped with the mikroBUS™ socket.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The L6986HTR is a step-down monolithic switching regulator able to deliver up to 2 A DC from STMicroelectronics. The output voltage adjustability ranges from 0.85 V to VIN. The “low consumption mode” (LCM) is designed for applications active during idle mode, so it maximizes the efficiency at light-load with controlled output voltage ripple. The “low noise mode” (LNM) makes the switching frequency constant and minimizes the output voltage ripple overload current range, meeting the low noise application specifications.

The output voltage supervisor manages the reset phase for any digital load (µC, FPGA). The RST open collector output can also implement output voltage sequencing during the power-up phase. The synchronous rectification, designed for high efficiency at medium - heavy load, and the high switching frequency capability make the size of the application compact. Pulse by pulse current sensing on both power elements implements an effective constant current protection.

The L6986H device is based on a “peak current mode”, constant frequency control. As a consequence, the intersection between the error amplifier output and the sensed inductor current generates the PWM control signal to drive the power switch. The device features LNM (low noise mode) which implements a forced PWM operation over the different loading conditions. The LNM features a constant switching frequency to minimize the noise in the final application and a constant voltage ripple at fixed VIN. The regulator in steady loading condition never skips pulses and it operates in continuous conduction mode (CCM) over the different loading conditions, thus making this operation mode ideal for noise sensitive applications.

The overvoltage protection monitors the VOUT pin and enables the low-side MOSFET to discharge the output capacitor if the output voltage is 20% over the nominal value. This is a second level protection and should never be triggered in normal operating conditions if the system is properly dimensioned. In other words, the selection of the external power components and the dynamic performance determined by the compensation network should guarantee an output voltage regulation within the overvoltage threshold even during the worst case scenario in term of load transitions. The protection is reliable and also able to operate even during normal load transitions for a system whose dynamic performance is not in line with the load dynamic request. As a consequence the output voltage regulation would be affected.

Because of the main possibilities its features offer, the Step Down 2 click is ideally used for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), decentralized intelligent nodes, sensors, and low noise applications (LNM).

SPECIFICATIONS

PINOUT DIAGRAM

This table shows how the pinout on Step Down 2 click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
	NC	1	AN	PWM	16	NC
Error	ERR	2	RST	INT	15	NC
Enable	EN	3	CS	RX	14	NC
	NC	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	NC
	NC	6	MOSI	SDA	11	NC
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	NC
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

ONBOARD SETTINGS AND INDICATORS

STEP DOWN 2 CLICK ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SOFTWARE SUPPORT

We provide a library for the Step Down 2 click on our LibStock page, as well as a demo application (example), developed using MikroElektronika compilers. The demo can run on all the main MikroElektronika development boards.

Library Description

The library covers all the necessary functions to control Step Down 2 click board. User can enable or disable the device and check for fault occurrence.

Key functions:

• void stepdown2_dev_enable ( uint8_t state ); - Function is used to enable or disable the device.
• uint8_t stepdown2_check_fault ( ); - Function is used to check whether the the fault has occured.

Examples description

The application is composed of three sections :

• System Initialization - Initializes LOG structure and sets CS as output and RST as input.
• Application Initialization - Initializes GPIO driver and starts log.
• Application Task - (code snippet) This example demonstrates the use of Step Down 2 click by enabling the device, and if the output voltage is good.

void application_task ( )
{
if ( stepdown2_check_fault( ) )
{
mikrobus_logWrite( "Device working properly!", _LOG_LINE );
}
else
{
mikrobus_logWrite( "Fault detected!", _LOG_LINE );
}
Delay_ms( 1000 );
mikrobus_logWrite( "--------------------", _LOG_LINE );
}

The full application code, and ready to use projects can be found on our LibStock page.

Other mikroE Libraries used in the example:

• UART

Additional notes and informations

Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART click, USB UART 2 click or RS232 click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. The terminal available in all MikroElektronika compilers, or any other terminal application of your choice, can be used to read the message.

MIKROSDK

This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK - MikroElektronika Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.

For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page.