The soft-start pin (SS/EN) is a multi-function pin used for the following operations:

• Closed-loop soft start with the gradual duty cycle increase from the minimum set by TMIN up to the steady-state duty cycle required by the regulated output voltage.
• Setting hiccup mode conditions during cycle-by-cycle overcurrent limit.
• On/off control for the converter.

During the soft-start sequence, one of the voltages at the SS/EN or EA+ pins, whichever is lower (SS/EN – 0.55 V) or EA+ voltage (see Section 6.2), sets the reference voltage for a closed feedback loop. Both SS/EN and EA+ signals are noninverting inputs of the error amplifier with the COMP pin being its output. Thus the soft-start time always goes under the closed feedback loop and the voltage at COMP pin sets the duty cycle. The duty cycle defined by the COMP pin voltage can not be shorter than TMIN pulse width set by the user. However, if the shortest duty cycle is set by the cycle-by-cycle current limit circuit, then it becomes dominant over the duty cycle defined by the COMP pin voltage or by the TMIN block.

The soft-start duration is defined by an external capacitor C_SS, connected between the SS/EN pin and ground, and the internal charge current that has a typical value of 25 μA. Pulling the soft-start pin externally below 0.55 V shuts down the controller. The release of the soft-start pin enables the controller to start, and if there is no current limit condition, the duty cycle applied to the output inductor gradually increases until it reaches the steady-state duty cycle defined by the regulated output voltage of the converter. This increase happens when the voltage at the SS/EN pin reaches and then exceeds by 0.55 V, the voltage at the EA+ pin. Thus for the given soft-start time T_SS, the C_SS value can be defined by Equation 1 or Equation 2:

For example, in Equation 1, if the soft-start time T_SS is 10 ms, and the EA+ pin is 2.5 V, then the soft-start capacitor C_SS is equal to 82 nF.