JAJSJO5B October 2022 – August 2024 LM64440-Q1 , LM64460-Q1
PRODUCTION DATA
Dropout operation is defined as any input-to-output voltage ratio that requires the switching frequency to decrease to achieve the required duty cycle. At a given clock frequency, the duty cycle is limited by the converter minimum off time. After this limit is reached, if the clock frequency were maintained, the output voltage falls. Instead of allowing the output voltage to drop, the converter extends on time past the end of the clock cycle until the required peak inductor current is achieved. The clock is allowed to start a new cycle after the required peak inductor current is reached or after a pre-determined maximum on time, tON(max), of approximately 9 µs passes. As a result, after the required duty cycle cannot be achieved at the selected clock frequency due to the minimum off-time requirement, the switching frequency decreases to maintain regulation. If the input voltage is low enough such that output voltage cannot be regulated even with an on time of tON(max), the output voltage drops to slightly below the input voltage, VDROP1. See the Systems Characteristics. Refer to Figure 7-15 for additional information on recovery from dropout.