When the EN pin voltage rises above the enable threshold voltage (typically 1.2 V), the controller enters its start-up sequence. The internal LDO regulator starts immediately and regulates to 5 V at the VREG pin. The controller then uses the first 250 μs to calibrate the switching frequency setting resistance attached to the RF pin and stores the switching frequency code in internal registers. During this period, the MODE pin also senses the resistance attached to this pin and determines the soft-start time. Switching is inhibited during this phase. In the second phase, an internal DAC starts ramping up the reference voltage from 0 V to 0.6 V. Depending on the MODE pin setting, the ramping up time varies from 0.7 ms to 5.6 ms. Smooth and constant ramp-up of the output voltage is maintained during start-up regardless of load current.

After soft-start begins, the MODE pin becomes the input of an internal comparator which determines auto-skip or FCCM mode operation. If MODE voltage is higher than 1.3 V, the converter enters into FCCM mode. Otherwise it will be in auto-skip mode at light load condition. Typically, when FCCM mode is selected, the MODE pin is connected to PGOOD through the R_MODE resistor, so that before PGOOD goes high the converter remains in auto-skip mode.