LTC4236
11
4236f
For more information www.linear.com/LTC4236
operaTion
The LTC4236 functions as an input supply diode-OR with
inrush current limiting and overcurrent protection by
controlling the external N-channel MOSFETs (MD1, MD2
and MH) on a supply path. This allows boards to be safely
inserted and removed in systems with a backplane powered
by redundant supplies. The LTC4236 has a single Hot Swap
controller and two separate ideal diode controllers, each
providing independent control for the two input supplies.
When the LTC4236 is first powered up, the gates of the
external MOSFETs are held low, keeping them off. As the
DGATE2 pull-up can be disabled by the D2OFF pin, DGATE2
will pull high only when the D2OFF pin is pulled low. The
gate drive amplifier (GD1, GD2) monitors the voltage be-
tween the IN and SENSE+ pins and drives the respective
DGATE pin. The amplifier quickly pulls up the DGATE pin,
turning on the MOSFET for ideal diode control, when it
senses a large forward voltage drop. With the ideal diode
MOSFETs acting as input supply diode-OR, the SENSE+
pin voltage rises to the highest of the supplies at the IN1
and IN2 pins. An external capacitor connected at the CPO
pin provides the charge needed to quickly turn on the
ideal diode MOSFET. An internal charge pump charges
up this capacitor at device power-up. The DGATE pin
sources current from the CPO pin and sinks current into
the IN1, D2SRC and GND pins. When the DGATE1 to IN1
or DGATE2 to D2SRC voltage exceeds 0.7V, the respec-
tive DSTAT pin pulls low to indicate that the ideal diode
MOSFET is turned on.
Pulling the ON pin high and EN pin low initiates a debounce
timing cycle that can be a fixed 100ms or adjustable delay
as configured at the DTMR pin. After this timing cycle, a
10µA current source from the charge pump ramps up
the HGATE pin. When the Hot Swap MOSFET turns on,
the inrush current is limited at a level set by an external
sense resistor (RS) connected between the SENSE+ and
SENSE– pins. An active current limit amplifier (CL) servos
the gate of the MOSFET to 25mV or less across the cur-
rent sense resistor depending on the voltage at the FB
pin. Inrush current can be further reduced, if desired, by
adding a capacitor from HGATE to GND. When FB voltage
rises above 1.235V and the MOSFET’s gate drive (HGATE
to OUT voltage) exceeds 4.2V, the PWRGD pin pulls low.
The high side current sense amplifier (CM) provides ac-
curate monitoring of current through the current sense
resistor. The sense voltage is amplified by 100 times and
level shifted from the positive rail to a ground-referred
output at the IMON pin. The output signal is analog and
may be used as is or measured with an ADC.
When the ideal diode MOSFET is turned on, the gate drive
amplifier controls DGATE to servo the forward voltage
drop (VIN – VSENSE+) across the MOSFET to 15mV. If the
load current causes more than 15mV of voltage drop,
the gate voltage rises to enhance the MOSFET. For large
output currents, the MOSFET’s gate is driven fully on and
the voltage drop is equal to ILOAD•RDS(ON) of the MOSFET.
In the case of an input supply short-circuit when the
MOSFETs are conducting, a large reverse current starts
flowing from the load towards the input. The gate drive
amplifier detects this failure condition and turns off the
ideal diode MOSFET by pulling down the DGATE pin.
In
the case where an overcurrent fault occurs on the supply
output, the current is limited with foldback. After a delay
set by 100µA charging the FTMR pin capacitor, the fault
timer expires and pulls the HGATE pin low, turning off the
Hot Swap MOSFET. The FAULT pin is also latched low. At
this point, the DGATE pin continues to pull high and keeps
the ideal diode MOSFET on.
Internal clamps limit both the DGATE1 and CPO1 to IN1,
and DGATE2 and CPO2 to D2SRC voltages to 12V. The
same clamps also limit the DGATE and CPO pins to a diode
voltage below the IN1 or D2SRC pins. Another internal
clamp limits the HGATE to OUT voltage to 12V and also
clamps the HGATE pin to a diode voltage below the OUT pin.
Power to the LTC4236 is supplied from either the IN or
OUT pins, through an internal diode-OR circuit to a low
dropout regulator (LDO). That LDO generates a 5V supply
at the INTVCC pin and powers the LTC4236’s internal low
voltage circuitry.