Maxim Introduces 12-Channel Voltage Sequencers/Monitors/Marginers

Maxim Integrated Products introduced the MAX16046–MAX16049, 12-channel, EEPROM-configurable, voltage sequencers/monitors/marginers. These devices use unique nonvolatile fault registers to store system voltage and fault information upon a critical system failure. Preserving critical system data in nonvolatile memory lets customers identify a failing voltage rail and isolate the cause of board failures during test debug or failure analysis.

These devices sequence, reverse sequence, monitor, and margin up to 12 supplies (MAX16046/MAX16047) or 8 supplies (MAX16048/MAX16049). This integration is said to be unparalleled in the industry. The principal applications for the MAX16046–MAX16049 are high-reliability systems such as storage, telecom, or networking equipment where a large number of voltage rails exist in a single system.

The MAX16046–MAX16049 are claimed to greatly simplify the system-monitoring function. A high-performance ADC eliminates the need for discrete comparators. The internal, 1% accurate ADC measures each input voltage and compares the result to one upper, one lower, and one selectable upper or lower threshold limit. Users are said to benefit because this precision and high speed provides a faster response time. Users would have typically needed 36 external comparators to monitor two undervoltage and one overvoltage thresholds for a 12–channel system.

The 12/8 DAC outputs of the MAX16046/MAX16048 devices are under I²C or logic input control and make it easy to implement power–supply voltage margining during the development phase, qualification phase, and production test. The DAC outputs are connected to the feedback node or trim input of the power supplies. A margining calculator is included in the configuration GUI program to facilitate resistor and DAC value calculations.

The MAX16046–MAX16049 also have integrated charge pumps and a voltage ramp generator that can be used to track up to four system voltages in a closed–loop system. The devices charge the gate of a series–pass nMOSFET with a controlled ramp rate to power up the system voltages, all tracking within 250mV. It is stated that users will benefit because they now can control power-up and power-down for mixed–mode (sequencing/tracking) systems. Internal EEPROM stores the chip configuration. The configuration is copied to working registers on power-up. The devices are also configurable on-the-fly through the I²C-/SMBus™-compliant or JTAG standard interfaces. The EEPROM is in-circuit programmable over both the JTAG and I²C interfaces.

Multipurpose GPIOs are another desirable feature of the MAX16046–MAX16049. These GPIOs are EEPROM-configurable as dedicated fault outputs, a watchdog input or output, a manual reset, or as margin–control inputs. These flexible GPIOs save pin count, another means of reducing board space. The MAX16046–MAX16049 have a wide 3 to 14V operating voltage range. They can be powered directly from a 12V intermediate bus, thus reducing the number of external components required.

The MAX16046–MAX16049 are fully specified over the -40 to +85°C extended temperature range. Samples are available immediately. The devices are offered in a small 56-pin, 8 x 8mm TQFN package.