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QUICK START GUIDE FOR DEMONSTRATION CIRCUIT 563 

SINGLE AND DUAL MARGINING CONTROLLER 

 

 

1

 

LTC2920-1CS5 

LTC2920-2CMS8 

DESCRIPTION

Demonstration circuit 563 contains two separate cir-
cuits: a (single channel) LTC2920-1 and a (dual chan-
nel) LTC2920-2 Power Supply Margining Controllers.  
This board is meant to be connected to up to three 
power supplies and demonstrates the voltage margin-
ing capabilities of the LTC2920. The board is scribed 
for easy separation of the two circuits if desired.  
Each circuit contains a Margining Controller, bypass 

capacitor, and pads for external connections.  There 
are also component locations for adding 0805 resis-
tors.  

These resistors are specific to each applica-

tion and must be installed to demonstrate Voltage 
Margining.

 

Design files for this circuit board are available. Call 
the LTC factory. 

QUICK START PROCEDURE

 

Referring to Figure 1, the Vcc1 and Gnd1 pins provide 
the power and ground connections for the LTC2920-1 
(single).  The Vcc2 and Gnd2 pins provide the power 
and ground connections for the LTC2920-2 (dual).  
The Vcc voltage can generally be varied between 2.2V 
and 6.0V.  Vcc must be at least 0.6 volts higher than 
the voltage at the Im pin.  See the LTC2920 Data 
Sheet for other design considerations on minimum 
Vcc voltage and Vcc filtering.  Be sure to connect the 
ground pin(s) to the same ground as the power sup-
ply(s) being margined. 

 

For margining power supplies with external feedback 
resistors, the Im pins should be connected to the 
power supply feedback node.  For margining power 
supplies using trim pins, the Im pin should be con-
nected to the power supply trim pin. 

 

The Imargin current sourced or sunk from each Im 
pin is individually programmed by its respective on 
board Rset resistor.  For the LTC2920-1 circuit, there 
are two possible locations for the Rset resistor.  Plac-
ing the Rset resistor in the ‘RLOW’ position will pro-
gram the Imargin current at 1V / Rset.  Placing the 
Rset resistor in the ‘RHI’ position will program the 
Imargin current at 30 * 1V / Rset.  See the LTC2920 
Data Sheet for the specification limits of the high and 
low current ranges.  On the LTC2920-2 circuit, there 

are two positions for each of the two Rset resistors.  
The ‘R1L’ and ‘R2L’ positions are similar to the 
‘RLOW’ position described above.  The ‘R1H’ and 
‘R2H’ positions are similar to the ‘RHI’ position de-
scribed above. 

 

The In pins can be connected to a system controller 
that has a 3-state output, or manually connected as 
shown.  When using a 3-state output to control the In 
pin, placing the (3-state) output in the high-Z state 
will ‘float’ the In pin, and cause the controlled Im pin 
to be in a high impedance state.  Raising an In pin 
above 2.0 Volts will cause its respective Im pin to 
sink current.  Lowering an In pin below 0.6 Volts will 
cause its respective Im pin to source current.  See the 
LTC2920 Data Sheet for details.  The In pins may also 
be controlled manually by connecting them to Vcc, 
ground, or left floating. 

 

After calculating and inserting the Rset resistor(s) as 
described above, place the DC563 board as close as 
possible to the power supplie(s) being margined.  The 
ground, Vcc, and Im pins should be connected with 
the shortest practical wires.   

 

With power applied, the power supply output(s) 
should be at their nominal values with the In pin(s) 

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