The internal soft-start circuitry controls the output voltage slope during start-up. This avoids excessive inrush current and ensures a controlled output voltage rise time. It also prevents unwanted voltage drops from high impedance power sources or batteries. When EN is set high to start operation, the device starts switching after a delay of about 200 μs then the internal reference and hence V_OUT rises with a slope controlled by an external capacitor connected to the SS/TR pin.

Leaving the SS/TR pin un-connected provides the fastest startup ramp with 150 µs typically. A capacitor connected from SS/TR to GND is charged with 2.5 µA by an internal current source during soft start until it reaches the reference voltage of 0.6 V. The capacitance required to set a certain ramp-time (t_ramp) therefore is:

Equation 6.

If the device is set to shutdown (EN = GND), undervoltage lockout, or thermal shutdown, an internal resistor pulls the SS/TR pin to GND to ensure a proper low level. Returning from those states causes a new start-up sequence.

A voltage applied at SS/TR can be used to track a master voltage. The output voltage follows this voltage in both directions up and down in forced PWM mode. In PFM mode, the output voltage decreases based on the load current. The SS/TR pin must not be connected to the SS/TR pin of other devices. An external voltage applied on SS/TR is internally clamped to the feedback voltage (0.6 V). TI recommends to set the target for the external voltage on SS/TR slightly above the feedback voltage. Given the tolerances of the resistor divider R₅ and R₆ on SS/TR, this ensures the device "switches" to the internal reference voltage when the power-up sequencing is finished. See Figure 10-58.