Application section of the data sheet shows a sample design of a 5V , 2.4A out boost with Vin from 2.5-4.5V. The sample design recommends a 1uH inductor from Coilcraft with a saturation rating of 5.1A (XFL4020-102). Using equation 5 with Vin = 2.5V, this inductor does not seem to have a high enough current rating for the application.
Am I calculating this wrong?
I have a TPS61230A boost design which is very similar: Vo = 4.2V at 2.5A . Vin between 2.5V and 4.2V (Battery) and the design copies the example fairly closely. But I am worried that the XFL inductor is does not offer enough margin in the worst case.
EVM uses XAL4020 which has a saturation rating of 8.7A, which seems more appropriate from a saturation point of view, but XFL has lower losses.
