# Question regarding LM5113 Driver

I have a few doubts regarding the driver LM5113 (and IC's in general at this point). As can be seen in the schematic below, VDD is provided with 5.1V via the Zener Diode.

I was told (with no further information) that, the chosen resistor (R50 = 787 Ohms) value is too high, and the LM5113 would "not receive enough current". The Zener diode requires 5mA Iz in order to provide a stable 5.1V drop (as outlined in the datasheet of the Zener), thus 787Ohms was chosen.

I was of the idea that as long as the optimal input voltage was provided, then the IC would draw the required current according to its load and internal impedance.

Therefore, considering the LM5113 can source 1.2A and sink 5A, can someone enlighten me with the relationship between the input voltage, current drawn and the parameter in the datasheet (page 5) "I_DDO (V_DD operating current)".

LM5113 100 V 1.2-A / 5-A, Half-Bridge Gate Driver for Enhancement Mode GaN FETs

• If you have, say, 10V before R50 how do you think anything after that is able to draw 5A? – PlasmaHH Nov 1 '17 at 11:53
• But I thought the sink current (5A) depends upon the output voltages on HOH, HOL, LOH, LOL and the resistors connected accross them? – Miccio Nov 1 '17 at 12:02
• I have no idea about that chip and was taking your "Therefore, considering the LM5113 can source 1.2A and sink 5A, " as the ability of that chip to provide these currents for driving the gates. In the end R50 limits what current the chip can take into VDD whatever it does with that. In that configuration it would not be much more than a mA that is available until the voltage drops significantly – PlasmaHH Nov 1 '17 at 12:16
• So how to know what the suitable current the chip can take into VDD? the datasheet specifies "I_DDO (V_DD operating current)" to be 2mA (typ) for Vdd=5V (page 5)? – Miccio Nov 1 '17 at 12:42
• You should rate your supply for the max current drawn, not the typical, and it seems to be a good idea to not have it vary much with current drawn. People typically use regulators for that purpose, why do you use a zener anyways? – PlasmaHH Nov 1 '17 at 12:46

This is a model of what you REALLY have.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

Current drawn by any device is the quiescent current (R2) PLUS whatever it's load draws when the outputs are high (R3), PLUS whatever current is required to switch that load (C1) PLUS any significant sink currents on the inputs (R4).

The switching load is dependent on the capacitive part of whatever load is being driven. For a simple device it's not that hard to calculate, for something more complex the math gets out of hand. That's one of the reasons we are generous when adding decoupling capacitors.

As such, for your circuit to work, R1 would need to be small enough to not drop the voltage at the top of D1 to less than the ZENER voltage when all that load is applied.

Unfortunately, since the load current will change depending on whether it is driven high or driven low, the supply current will change a lot. That now means the ZENER must be capable of sinking the difference and needs to be a high power device. Further, since the difference in current in the ZENER is large, the voltage that the ZENER regulates at will change markedly.

You can improve the situation a bit if you use a voltage follower.

simulate this circuit

The device current then is supplied by the NPN device which will need a heat-sink if the load across it is more than 1W. (voltage drop * max current)

However, even in this case the base current needs to flow through the ZENER resistor. It is of course reduced by the $\beta$ of the transistor, but for large current/ current variation loads that will still be significant.

You can use a Darlington transistor instead, and up the ZENER voltage another diode drop to further reduce the effect on R1.

However, once you do all that, you would have been better off just putting in a suitable linear regulator in the first place.

• Thanks for the lengthy explanation. I think my basic understanding regarding driving FETs is limited. You state "Current drawn by any device is the quiescent current PLUS whatever it's load draws when the outputs are high, PLUS whatever current is required to switch that load." In the case of the LM5113, the source current of 1.2A, is what the load draws or the current required to switch the load? And yes, I will be using another linear regulator. – Miccio Nov 1 '17 at 13:42
• @Miccio since you are using the device to drive the gates of MOSFETS, with no series resistance, that will be your max switching current, per output, to charge the gate capacitance. – Trevor_G Nov 1 '17 at 13:47
• So from what I understand,each FET requires 1.2A to be switched on? So the input current of the LM5113 would need to be 1.2A + the small amount of quiescent current? What is the "V_DD operating current" rated at 2.0mA in the datasheet? – Miccio Nov 1 '17 at 13:57
• @Miccio because all devices have a quiescent current they will take even when nothing is connected to the inputs and outputs. It's what the device needs just to stay alive. You always need to add in all the other loads. When it tries to drive one of the external FETS, you have are really charging a small capacitor, though very little resistance. The current will peak at either the series resistance or whatever the output can drive. It IS VERY short lived though. – Trevor_G Nov 1 '17 at 14:03
• Ok, but the datasheet mentions: "V_DD operating current" and "V_DD Quiescent Current". Regardless of this, an adequate linear reg. to power the LM5113 would need to be able to provide at least 1.2A + Iq? – Miccio Nov 1 '17 at 14:11