The bias supply voltage range for which the UCC27528-Q1 device is rated to operate is from 4.5 V to 18 V. The lower end of this range is governed by the internal undervoltage-lockout (UVLO) protection feature on the VDD pin supply circuit blocks. Whenever the driver is in UVLO condition when the VDD pin voltage is below the V_ON supply start threshold, this feature holds the output low, regardless of the status of the inputs. The upper end of this range is driven by the 20-V absolute-maximum voltage rating of the VDD pin of the device (which is a stress rating). Maintaining a 2-V margin to allow for transient voltage spikes, the maximum recommended voltage for the VDD pin is 18 V.

The UVLO protection feature also involves a hysteresis function. This hysteresis function means that when the VDD pin bias voltage exceeds the threshold voltage and device begins to operate, and if the voltage drops, then the device continues to deliver normal functionality unless the voltage drop exceeds the hysteresis specification, VDD_H. Therefore, ensuring that, while operating at or near the 4.2-V range, the voltage ripple on the auxiliary power supply output is smaller than the hysteresis specification of the device is important to avoid triggering device shutdown. During system shutdown, the device operation continues until the VDD pin voltage has dropped below the V_OFF threshold which must be accounted for while evaluating system shutdown timing design requirements. Likewise, at system startup, the device does not begin operation until the VDD pin voltage has exceeded above the V_ON threshold.

The quiescent current consumed by the internal circuit blocks of the device is supplied through the VDD pin. Although this fact is well known, recognizing that the charge for source current pulses delivered by the OUTA or OUTB pin is also supplied through the same VDD pin is important. As a result, every time a current is sourced out of the output pins, a corresponding current pulse is delivered into the device through the VDD pin. Thus ensuring that local bypass capacitors are provided between the VDD and GND pins and located as close to the device as possible for the purpose of decoupling is important. A low-ESR, ceramic surface-mount capacitor is a must. TI recommends having 2 capacitors; a 100-nF ceramic surface-mount capacitor which can be nudged very close to the pins of the device and another surface-mount capacitor of few microfarads added in parallel.