The UCC3918 low on-resistance hot swap power manager provides complete power management, hot swap capability, and circuit breaker functions. The only components needed to operate the device, other than supply bypassing, are a timing capacitor, and two programming resistors. All control and housekeeping functions are integrated, and externally programmable. These include the fault current level, maximum output sourcing current, maximum fault time, and startup delay. In the event of a constant fault, the internal fixed 3%duty cycle ratio limits the average output power. The IFAULT pin allows linear programming of the fault level current from 0 A to 4 A.

Fast overload protection is accomplished by an additional overload comparator. Its threshold is internally set above the maximum sourcing current limit setting. In the event of a short circuit or extreme current condition, this comparator is tripped, shutting down the output. This function is needed since the maximum sourcing current limit loop has a finite bandwidth.

When the output current is below the fault level, the output MOSFET is switched on with a nominal resistance of 0.075. When the output current exceeds the fault level or the maximum sourcing level, the output remains on, but the fault timer starts charging a capacitor connected to the CT pin (CT). Once CTcharges to a preset threshold, the switch is turned off, and remains off for 30 times the programmed fault time. When the output current reaches the maximum sourcing level, the MOSFET transitions from a switch to a constant current source.Read more