What does automatic current decay mode detection/selection mean?
The A3977 will automatically select the decay modes suitable for optimum performance. If the output current at the previous step was higher than the output current for the present step, then the PFD pin controls the decay mode (falling current, moving towards zero). If the output current at the previous step was lower than the output current for the present step, then the decay mode is fixed to slow decay (rising current, away from zero). When first powering-up the device, coming out of reset, or coming out of Sleep mode, the device will set both bridges to mixed-decay (PFD controls the decay mode).
