SNVS124G November 1999 – March 2023 LM2596
PRODUCTION DATA
Refer to the PDF data sheet for device specific package drawings
The selection guide chooses inductor values suitable for continuous mode operation, but for low current applications or high input voltages, a discontinuous mode design can be a better choice. A discontinuous mode design can use an inductor that can be physically smaller, and can require only one half to one third the inductance value required for a continuous mode design. The peak switch and inductor currents will be higher in a discontinuous design, but at these low load currents (1 A and below), the maximum switch current will still be less than the switch current limit.
Discontinuous operation can have voltage waveforms that are considerably different than a continuous design. The output pin (switch) waveform can have some damped sinusoidal ringing present (see Figure 9-14). This ringing is normal for discontinuous operation, and is not caused by feedback loop instabilities. In discontinuous operation, there is a period of time where neither the switch nor the diode are conducting, and the inductor current has dropped to zero. During this time, a small amount of energy can circulate between the inductor and the switch/diode parasitic capacitance causing this characteristic ringing. Normally this ringing is not a problem, unless the amplitude becomes great enough to exceed the input voltage, and even then, there is very little energy present to cause damage.
Different inductor types or core materials produce different amounts of this characteristic ringing. Ferrite core inductors have very little core loss and therefore produce the most ringing. The higher core loss of powdered iron inductors produce less ringing. If desired, a series RC can be placed in parallel with the inductor to dampen the ringing.