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It is common knowledge in the DC/DC converter domain that a buck converter or regulator integrated circuit (IC), such as the LM5017 family, can create a negative V_OUT from a positive V_IN. At first glance, the schematic of an inverting buck-boost converter using a buck regulator IC looks deceivingly similar to a buck converter (Figure 1a and 1c). But there are important differences in the two circuits, both in terms of voltage and current levels, switching-current flow, and layout.

I discussed the differences between V_IN range, V_OUT range and available output current I_OUT max in an earlier blog post. The difference in layout arising from the difference in switching-current flow paths of an inverting buck-boost converter and a buck converter – although critical – is not as well understood.

Figure 1 illustrates the difference in switching-current flow in a buck converter and an inverting buck-boost converter. In the buck converter (Figure 1a and 1b), the input loop – comprising the input capacitor C_IN, high-side switch QH and synchronous rectifier QL, carries high di/dt switching current. The output loop, comprising the synchronous rectifier QL, inductor L1 and output capacitor C_OUT, has a relatively continuous current. Thus, while optimizing the input-current loop area is critical, it’s not as important to optimize the output-current loop area.

The input- and output-current loops in an inverting buck-boost converter comprise the same elements as those in a buck converter (Figure 1c and 1d). The input loop has the input capacitor C_IN, control FET QH and synchronous rectifier QL. The output-current loop consists of the synchronous rectifier QL, the filter inductor L1 and the output capacitor C_OUT. In an inverting buck-boost converter, however, both the input- and output-current loops carry high di/dt switching current because the filter inductor switches from C_IN to C_OUT between the switching subintervals.

Because of the similarity in the buck and inverting schematics, the difference in switching-current paths often gets overlooked, and many inverting buck-boost designs and layouts are done just as they are for a buck converter, with only the input-current loop optimized for a small loop area. The buck to inverting buck-boost transition is often treated as a mere reconnection of V_OUT and ground pins. But this approach fails to consider that the different current flows in a simple buck and an inverting buck-boost converter (using the same regulator IC) result in these issues:

• The switching-current path shown in Figure 1c and 1d can have significant parasitic inductance, causing higher spikes on the switch node with these adverse consequences:
  • Higher electromagnetic interference (EMI) and noise as a result of switching current flowing through a non-optimized current loop.
  • In the inverting buck-boost configuration, the MOSFETs see a higher spike voltage on top of the |V_IN + V_OUT| voltage.
• The switching current through the output capacitor has higher root mean square (RMS) (heating) content than in a buck converter for the same inductor current. The discontinuous current in the output capacitor also results in higher output ripple. Therefore, designers must keep these higher ripple currents in mind during output capacitor selection to satisfy both the V_OUT ripple and I_RMS current rating. Figure 2 compares the output capacitor ripple current in a buck and an inverting buck-boost converter.

Figure 3 shows how to optimize an inverting buck-boost power stage to achieve lower di/dt input and output loops. Figure 4 shows an example inverting buck-boost power-stage layout using the LM5017, a 100V synchronous buck regulator.

Conclusion

Designers often use a buck regulator to create an inverting buck-boost regulator. But there are critical differences in the switching-current flow between buck and inverting buck-boost circuits. In particular, designers should pay attention to output filter capacitor selection and the switching-current loop layout to achieve the best reliability and noise performance.

Additional Resources

• Read the Analog Applications Journal article, “Using a buck converter in an inverting buck-boost topology.”
• Download the “Using the TPS5430 as an Inverting Buck-Boost Converter” application report.