AAT4601A
DATA SHEET
1.8A Current Limited P-Channel Switch
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Input Capacitor
The input capacitor serves two purposes. First, it pro-
tects the source power supply from transient current
effects generated by the application load circuit. If a
short circuit is suddenly applied to the output of an
AAT4601A, there is a microsecond-long period during
which a large current can flow before the current limit
circuitry activates; refer to the characteristic curve,
“Short-Circuit Through 0.3." A properly sized input
capacitor can dramatically reduce the load switch input
transient response effects seen by the power supply and
other circuitry upstream from the AAT4601A.
The second purpose of the input capacitor is to prevent
transient events generated by the load circuit from
affecting operation of the AAT4601A. For example, if an
AAT4601A is used in a circuit that operates from a 3V
power supply with poor step load response, it is possible
that turning on the load switch could cause the input
power supply to droop below the AAT4601A's under-
voltage lockout threshold. This drop in voltage would
cause the AAT4601A to turn off until the input power
supply's voltage recovers. Since this cycle would be self-
perpetuating, the entire circuit could be seen to be
unstable. In the very rare case where capacitor cost is
prohibitive, the output load circuit should be slew rate
limited when turned on.
Output Capacitor
In order to insure stability while the device current limit
is active, a small capacitance of approximately 1μF
should be used. When the AAT4601A is activated using
the ON function, there are no momentary current tran-
sients, as in the case when a short circuit is suddenly
applied to a device that is already on; refer to the char-
acteristic curve, “Switch Turn-On Time.” No matter how
big the output capacitor, output current is limited to the
value allowed by the threshold determined by RSET and
the internal current limiting circuitry. This permits very
large output capacitors to be used.
For example, USB ports are specified to have at least
120μF of downstream capacitance from their controlling
power switch. An output capacitance as large as 1000μF
would not disturb the input power supply to the
AAT4601A used to control the USB port.
ON Input
When the AAT4601A is in the off state, the output is an
open circuit and the device quiecent current consump-
tion is reduced to less than 1μA. The ON threshold volt-
age is set to allow the AAT4601A to be controlled by 5V
TTL levels as well as CMOS power from 2.5V to 5V. The
ON function control voltage level should not exceed the
input supply level applied to the IN pin.
FAULT Output
A FAULT flag is provided to alert a system if the load
switch is not receiving a sufficient voltage level to prop-
erly operate. If either the current limit or over-tempera-
ture circuits in any combination are continuously active
for more than approximately 2ms, the FAULT pin is
pulled to ground internally through a 100 resistance.
The 2ms delay on the FAULT function is intended to pre-
vent capacitive loads connected to the load switch out-
put from activating FAULT when the device is turned on.
The placement of a pull-up resistor between the FAULT
pin and the IN pin is recommended. Reasonable values
for the pull-up resistor should range from 10k to
100k. Since FAULT is an open drain terminal, it may be
pulled up to any voltage that is not greater than the level
present on the IN pin. This is done to allow the AAT4601A
to signal ancillary circuitry that is powered by a voltage
level less than the level on the IN pin.
Reverse Voltage
The AAT4601A is designed to control current flowing
from IN to OUT. If a voltage is applied to OUT that is
greater than that on IN, a large resulting reverse current
may flow, potentially damaging the AAT4601A.
Printed Circuit Board
Layout Recommendations
For proper thermal management, and to take advantage
of the low RDS(ON) of the AAT4601A, a few circuit board
layout rules should be followed: VIN and VOUT should be
routed using wider than normal traces, and GND should
be connected to a ground plane. For best performance,
CIN and COUT should be placed close to the package pins.
Evaluation Board Layout
The AAT4601A evaluation layout follows the printed cir-
cuit board layout recommendations and can be used for
good applications layout.
Note: Board layout shown is not to scale.