News Release from: Summit Microelectronics
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 7 April 2003
Hot-swap controller protects distributed power
The SMH4802 is a fully integrated programmable hot swap controller for -48V power supplies.
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The SMH4802 is a fully integrated programmable hot swap controller for -48V power supplies. Hot-swap capability is a critical element in a high-availability system, because it allows addin cards to be removed from or inserted into a fully powered host platform without an interruption in the system's operation and without damage to any of the devices on the board. This provides a mechanism for the replacement of faulty boards, addition of new boards or the reconfiguring of a system without downtime.
These features are incorporated into the SMH4802.
The SMH4802 has the ability to perform remote power-on/off, latch-off and power-on delays over the industry standard I2C bus for use in -48V distributed power systems and emerging applications using this bus standard.
The SMH4802 also provides both soft-start power-up and "circuit-breaker" functions to protect against overcurrent conditions.
During power-up, undervoltage and overvoltage monitors in the controller first verify that the input voltage is within the user-specified range; once these requirements are met, the hot-swap controller will then turn on an external power mosfet to ramp up the supply voltage in a controlled, well-behaved manner.
Sustained overcurrent events can damage the host supply and/or the load circuitry, causing a system to fail.
To prevent this, the device features a programmable forced-shutdown "circuit-breaker" that can be set to either latch off, or reactivate after a 2s cooling-down period.
Typical applications are those with -48V power distribution, including high-availability servers, such as those used in Internet access; central office switches; and telecommunications line cards that demand both on-the-fly configurability and redundant power supply to the system.
To speed design and product development using the SMH4802, Summit offers the SMX3200 programming system.
As with all Summit design kits, the SMX3200 is a complete development tool that lets designers easily manipulate the characteristics of their power management system.
The SMX3200 design kit includes menu-driven Microsoft Windows graphical user interface (GUI) software to automate programming tasks and also includes all necessary cabling hardware to interface from the parallel port of a laptop or desktop PC for in-circuit programming in the user's prototype.
On completion of prototyping, the source file is converted to an object file for transmittal to Summit for review and approval.
Summit then assigns a unique customer identification code to the file and will program the customer's production devices prior to final electrical test.
This ensures that the device will operate properly in the end application.
The design kit software can be downloaded now from Summit's website.
The SMH4802 is available now in both the commercial and industrial temperature ranges in a 14-pin surface-mounted SOIC package.
Commercial-range pricing is $2.50 in quantities of 10,000 units.
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