SHUTDOWN MODE
To shutdown the LMZ10500, pull the EN pin low (<0.5V). In
the shutdown mode all internal circuits are turned OFF.
EN PIN OPERATION
The EN pin is internally pulled up to VIN through a 790kΩ
(typ.) resistor. This allows the nano module to be enabled by
default when the EN pin is left floating. In such cases VIN will
set EN high when VIN reaches 1.2V. As the input voltage con-
tinues to rise, operation will start once VIN exceeds the under-
voltage lockout (UVLO) threshold. To set EN high externally,
pull it up to 1.2V or higher. Note that the voltage on EN must
remain at less than VIN+ 0.2V due to absolute maximum rat-
ings of the device.
INTERNAL SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION
The LMZ10500 uses an internal NFET as a synchronous rec-
tifier to minimize the switch voltage drop and increase effi-
ciency. The NFET is designed to conduct through its intrinsic
body diode during the built-in dead time between the PFET
on-time and the NFET on-time. This eliminates the need for
an external diode. The dead time between the PFET and
NFET connection prevents shoot through current from VIN to
PGND during the switching transitions.
CURRENT LIMIT
The LMZ10500 current limit feature protects the module dur-
ing an overload condition. The circuit employs positive peak
current limit in the PFET and negative peak current limit in the
NFET switch. The positive peak current through the PFET is
limited to 1.2A (typ.). When the current reaches this limit
threshold the PFET switch is immediately turned off until the
next switching cycle. This behavior continues on a cycle-by-
cycle basis until the overload condition is removed from the
output. The typical negative peak current limit through the
NFET switch is -0.6A (typ.).
The ripple of the inductor current depends on the input and
output voltages. This means that the DC level of the output
current when the peak current limiting occurs will also vary
over the line voltage and the output voltage level. Refer to the
DC Output Current Limit plots in the Typical Performance
Characteristics section for more information.
STARTUP BEHAVIOR AND SOFTSTART
The LMZ10500 features a current limit based soft start circuit
in order to prevent large in-rush current and output overshoot
as VOUT is ramping up. This is achieved by gradually increas-
ing the PFET current limit threshold to the final operating
value as the output voltage ramps during startup. The maxi-
mum allowed current in the inductor is stepped up in a stair-
case profile for a fixed number of switching periods in each
step. Additionally, the switching frequency in the first step is
set at 450kHz and is then increased for each of the following
steps until it reaches 2MHz at the final step of current limiting.
This current limiting behavior is illustrated in the following fig-
ure and allows for a smooth VOUT ramp up.
30161634
FIGURE 2. Startup behavior of current limit based
softstart.
The soft start rate is also limited by the VCON ramp up rate.
The VCON pin is discharged internally through a pull down de-
vice before startup occurs. This is done to deplete any resid-
ual charge on the VCON filter capacitor and allow the VCON
voltage to ramp up from 0V when the part is started. The
events that cause VCON discharge are thermal shutdown, UV-
LO, EN low, or output short circuit detection. The minimum
recommended capacitance on VCON is 220pF and the maxi-
mum is 1nF. The duration of startup current limiting sequence
takes approximately 75µs. After the sequence is completed,
the feedback voltage is monitored for output short circuit
events.
OUTPUT SHORT CIRCUIT PROTECTION
In addition to cycle by cycle current limit, the LMZ10500 fea-
tures a second level of short circuit protection. If the load pulls
the output voltage down and the feedback voltage falls to
0.375V, the output short circuit protection will engage. In this
mode the internal PFET switch is turned OFF after the current
limit comparator trips and the beginning of the next cycle is
inhibited for approximately 230µs. This forces the inductor
current to ramp down and limits excessive current draw from
the input supply when the output of the regulator is shorted.
The synchronous rectifier is always OFF in this mode. After
230µs of non-switching a new startup sequence is initiated.
During this new startup sequence the current limit is gradually
stepped up to the nominal value as illustrated in the START-
UP BEHAVIOR AND SOFTSTART section. After the startup
sequence is completed again, the feedback voltage is moni-
tored for output short circuit. If the short circuit is still persistent
after the new startup sequence, switching will be stopped
again and there will be another 230µs off period. A persistent
output short condition results in a hiccup behavior where the
LMZ10500 goes through the normal startup sequence, then
detects the output short at the end of startup, terminates
switching for 230µs, and repeats this cycle until the output
short is released. This behavior is illustrated in the following
figure.
13 www.national.com
LMZ10500