SNVSBR8E March   2020  – October 2025 LMQ61460

PRODUCTION DATA  

  1.   1
  2. 1 Features
  3. 2 Applications
  4. 3 Description
  5. 4 Device Comparison Table
  6. 5 Pin Configuration and Functions
  7. 6 Specifications
    1. 6.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 6.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 6.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 6.4 Thermal Information
    5. 6.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 6.6 Timing Characteristics
    7. 6.7 Systems Characteristics
    8. 6.8 Typical Characteristics
  8. 7 Detailed Description
    1. 7.1 Overview
    2. 7.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 7.3 Feature Description
      1. 7.3.1  EN/SYNC Uses for Enable and VIN UVLO
      2. 7.3.2  EN/SYNC Pin Uses for Synchronization
      3. 7.3.3  Adjustable Switching Frequency
      4. 7.3.4  Clock Locking
      5. 7.3.5  PGOOD Output Operation
      6. 7.3.6  Internal LDO, VCC UVLO, and BIAS Input
      7. 7.3.7  Bootstrap Voltage and VCBOOT-UVLO (CBOOT Pin)
      8. 7.3.8  Adjustable SW Node Slew Rate
      9. 7.3.9  Spread Spectrum
      10. 7.3.10 Soft Start and Recovery From Dropout
      11. 7.3.11 Output Voltage Setting
      12. 7.3.12 Overcurrent and Short-Circuit Protection
      13. 7.3.13 Thermal Shutdown
      14. 7.3.14 Input Supply Current
    4. 7.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 7.4.1 Shutdown Mode
      2. 7.4.2 Standby Mode
      3. 7.4.3 Active Mode
        1. 7.4.3.1 CCM Mode
        2. 7.4.3.2 Auto Mode – Light-Load Operation
          1. 7.4.3.2.1 Diode Emulation
          2. 7.4.3.2.2 Frequency Reduction
        3. 7.4.3.3 FPWM Mode – Light-Load Operation
        4. 7.4.3.4 Minimum On-Time (High Input Voltage) Operation
        5. 7.4.3.5 Dropout
  9. 8 Application and Implementation
    1. 8.1 Application Information
    2. 8.2 Typical Application
      1. 8.2.1 Design Requirements
      2. 8.2.2 Detailed Design Procedure
        1. 8.2.2.1  Choosing the Switching Frequency
        2. 8.2.2.2  Setting the Output Voltage
        3. 8.2.2.3  Inductor Selection
        4. 8.2.2.4  Output Capacitor Selection
        5. 8.2.2.5  Input Capacitor Selection
        6. 8.2.2.6  BOOT Capacitor
        7. 8.2.2.7  BOOT Resistor
        8. 8.2.2.8  VCC
        9. 8.2.2.9  BIAS
        10. 8.2.2.10 CFF and RFF Selection
        11. 8.2.2.11 External UVLO
      3. 8.2.3 Application Curves
    3. 8.3 Power Supply Recommendations
    4. 8.4 Layout
      1. 8.4.1 Layout Guidelines
        1. 8.4.1.1 Ground and Thermal Considerations
      2. 8.4.2 Layout Example
  10. 9 Device and Documentation Support
    1. 9.1 Documentation Support
      1. 9.1.1 Related Documentation
    2. 9.2 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    3. 9.3 Support Resources
    4. 9.4 Trademarks
    5. 9.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 9.6 Glossary
  11. 10Revision History
  12. 11Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

7.3.10 Soft Start and Recovery From Dropout

The device uses a reference-based soft start that prevents output voltage overshoots and large inrush currents during start-up. Soft start is triggered by any of the following conditions:

  • Power is applied to the VIN pin of the IC, releasing UVLO.
  • EN is used to turn on the device.
  • Recovery from a hiccup waiting period
  • Recovery from shutdown due to overtemperature protection

After soft start is triggered, the IC takes the following actions:

  • The reference used by the IC to regulate output voltage is slowly ramped. The net result is that output voltage takes tSS to reach 90% of its desired value.
  • Operating mode is set to auto, activating diode emulation, which allows start-up without pulling output low if there is a voltage already present on output.

Together, these actions provide start-up with limited inrush currents and also allow the use of larger output capacitors and higher loading conditions that cause current to border on current limit during start-up without triggering hiccup. See Figure 7-8.

LMQ61460 Soft-Start Operation
Soft start works with both output voltage starting from 0 V on the left curves, or if there is already voltage on the output, as shown on right. In either case, output voltage must reach within 10% of the desired value tSS after soft start is initiated. During soft start, FPWM and hiccup are disabled. Both hiccup and FPWM are enabled once output reaches regulation or tSS2, whichever happens first.
Figure 7-8 Soft-Start Operation

Any time the output voltage falls more than a few percent, the output voltage ramps up slowly. This condition is called recovery from dropout and differs from soft start in three important ways:

  • The reference voltage is set to approximately 1% above what is needed to achieve the existing output voltage.
  • Hiccup is allowed if output voltage is less than 0.4 times its set point. Note that during dropout regulation itself, hiccup is inhibited.
  • FPWM mode is allowed during recovery from dropout. If the output voltage were to suddenly be pulled up by an external supply, the device can pull down on the output.

Despite being called recovery from dropout, this feature is active whenever output voltage drops to a few percent lower than the set point, which primarily occurs under the following conditions:

  • Dropout: When there is insufficient input voltage for the desired output voltage to be generated
  • Overcurrent: When there is an overcurrent event that is not severe enough to trigger hiccup
LMQ61460 Recovery From Dropout
Whether output voltage falls due to high load or low input voltage, once the condition that causes output to fall below its set point is removed, the output climbs at the same speed as during start-up. Even though hiccup does not trigger due to dropout, it can in principle be triggered during recovery if output voltage is below 0.4 times the output set point for more than 128 clock cycles.
Figure 7-9 Recovery From Dropout
LMQ61460 Recovery From Dropout (VOUT = 5 V, IOUT = 4 A, VIN = 13.5 V to 4 V to 13.5 V)Figure 7-10 Recovery From Dropout (VOUT = 5 V, IOUT = 4 A, VIN = 13.5 V to 4 V to 13.5 V)