New Industry Products

TI Launches Integrated Hot Swap Power Management Controller

April 28, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) introduced what it describes as the industry’s first single-chip, dual-slot hot swap manager for Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AdvancedMC™) used in wireless, telecom and computing systems, including custom, AdvancedTCA (ATCA) and MicroTCA systems. The device is said to significantly improve the flexibility and performance of hot swap power management design in applications ranging from 3G/Beyond 3G wireless base stations and network equipment to high-end data communications.

TI’s I²C-programmable TPS2359 hot swap controller performs all necessary power interface functions for two AdvancedMCs, while requiring the fewest possible external components. TI claims that the controller eliminates up to 75% of the components required in competing solutions. Enabling seamless "plug-and-play" insertion and removal of AdvancedMCs during system operation, the device’s two fully integrated 3.3V channels provide inrush control, over-current protection and FET ORing control functionality. In addition, two 12V channels provide the same functions using external FETs and sense resistors. The controller’s 3.3V current limits are set at the factory to AdvancedMC-compliant levels and the 12V current limits can be programmed using external resistors.

The TPS2359’s integrated ORing control capability is said to simplify power design for MicroTCA power modules or other implementations that manage redundant power in the AdvancedMC slot. When used with a low Rdson N-channel MOSFET, it is claimed that the controller seamlessly manages power distribution, while protecting the system from potentially dangerous reverse-current or transient events by providing a turn-off response of 130ns.

The controller’s I²C interface allows a designer to digitally configure and monitor the AdvancedMC hot swap solution over a two-wire bus – and with fewer required external components and pins. This interface programs current limit, fast-trip threshold and fault time. The TPS2359 also features enable or disable of the ORing, multi-channel cross-connect and auto-retry.

The TPS2359 comes in a space-saving 36-pin, PQFN package with a suggested resale price of US$5.00 in 1,000-piece quantities. The TPS2358 is available in a 48-pin QFN with a suggested resale price of $4.00 in 1,000-piece quantities.