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LT3476 spice model results not agreeing with actual circuit results

Category: Hardware
Product Number: LT3476

LT3476 spice model results not agreeing with actual circuit results.  The Spice model predicts a stable 1 MHz repeating duty cycle (75% SW closed) with only slight variation to maintain current at the target 335 mA target.  

Looking at actual results from the circuit, provides very different results where the SW voltage, as measured at the connection to the inductor, shows an irregular pattern where the SW is on duty cycle > 95% for 5 us and ~7.5 us with no switching activity at all.  The irregular switching activity shows significant variation in the target 350 mA drive current trace shown below it, generally aligned in time.  

Model schematic shown below.  Any ideas what is causing the difference between Spice and actual circuit performance?  Any experiments or data that would help resolve the issue?

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  • Found that the model would correlate if R3, connected to the VC pin, was increased to 800K.  Inspection of C6 found a small fracture in the part.  Cooling probably changed geometry or could have put some condensation on C6 that caused it to work.  Replaced C6 and circuit functions normally.  Sorry for posting only to find it was a fabrication issue.  Might be helpful if someone sees this pulse skipping -- check what's going on at VC.