SNVSBB5B September 2019 – September 2020 LMR36503-Q1
PRODUCTION DATA
Diode emulation prevents reverse current through the inductor which requires a lower frequency needed to regulate given a fixed peak inductor current. Diode emulation also limits ripple current as frequency is reduced. With a fixed peak current, as output current is reduced to zero, frequency must be reduced to near zero to maintain regulation.
The LMR36503-Q1 has a minimum peak inductor current setting (ILPK (see IPEAK-MIN in Section 7.5) while in auto mode. Once current is reduced to a low value with fixed input voltage, on-time is constant. Regulation is then achieved by adjusting frequency. This mode of operation is called PFM mode regulation.