PSM Applications : IOUT_OC_FAULT

An IOUT_OC fault was detected because the differential voltage seen on the ISENSE pins reached the IOUT_OC_FAULT_LIMIT.

Possible Causes:

  • A fast transient may have occurred. The current supervisor's update rate is 12us.
  • IOUT_CAL_GAIN is set too low.
  • IOUT_OC_FAULT_LIMIT is set too low.
  • If sensing current by inductor DCR,  that is not captured by a scope
  • Output is shorted to GND.

Remedies and Workarounds

Here are some experiments you can try to narrow things down:

  • Changing the output current limits may resolve the problem, but possibly not. There is a deglitched fault response that might help. Set the IOUT_OC_FAULT_RESPONSE to deglitched and set the delay_count to a non-zero value. The delay_count value represents how many 12us periods the supervisor checks for an OC condition. 
  • Change IOUT_CAL_GAIN to a larger value which will then translate to a lower output current value.

Other Debugging Tips

There are a number of scenarios which can create a IOUT_OC fault.  If you have an oscilloscope, perhaps the fastest way to insight is to:

  • Trigger the scope on the falling edge of the ALERTB signal, and 
  • Look at the ISENSE and VSENSE pins at the IC.

The ALERTB signal will be pulled low by the IC at the time of the fault.