TI hot swap controllers have power limiting feature

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) has disclosed that its TPS2490 and TPS2491 are the industry's first hot swap power managers to feature programmable power and current limit functions for 9V to 80V systems.

Simplifying high voltage system design, the 3-by-5mm controllers take advantage of the company's 0.7?m silicon-on-insulator analog process to ensure complete MOSFET safe operating area (SOA) protection.

Suitable for positive high voltage distributed power systems, such as 12-, 24- and 48V server backplanes, storage area networks, medical systems, plug-in modules and wireless basestations, the devices' programmable power limiting feature helps make certain the external FET never operates outside its SOA in applied voltage, current and time. During normal operation, the external FET works with the gate-to-source voltage to provide low channel resistance. During start-up and short circuit events, the gate-to-source voltage is modulated to provide a defined turn-on time and to prevent damage to the external FET.

The TPS2490 and TPS2491 are shipped in lead-free, 10-pin MSOP packages and are priced at $1.70 per 1,000 units.