Maxim High-Voltage, Overvoltage-Protection Controllers With Battery Switchover Protect Low-Voltage Systems Up To 28V

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX4959/MAX4960 overvoltage-protection (OVP) controllers with battery-switchover functionality. Designed to protect low-voltage systems up to 28V, these devices provide resistor-programmable overvoltage (6 to 28V) and undervoltage (5 to 28V) trip levels.

To implement this OVP and prevent damage to protected components, the MAX4959/MAX4960 turn off an external pFET when the input voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold. Subsequently, they hold the external pFET off until the input voltage rises above the undervoltage-lockout (UVLO) threshold. These controllers also feature a control-bit pin that switches to the battery when the host system detects a disconnect at the ac adapter. This combination of OVP and battery-switchover functionality makes the MAX4959/MAX4960 well suited for low-voltage systems such as ultra-mobile PCs, notebooks, and camcorders.

The MAX4959/MAX4960 provide ±15kV ESD protection (Human Body Model) on the input when the input is bypassed with an external 1µf ceramic capacitor. These controllers are fully specified over the -40 to +85°C extended temperature range, and are available in 2 x 2mm, 10-pin microDFN, and 3 x 5mm, 10-pin microMAX® packages.

Prices start at $0.90 (1000-up, FOB USA).