General Description

The MAX16141, an ideal diode controller, provides system protection against a variety of system faults, such as reverse-current, overcurrent, input overvoltage/undervoltage, and overtemperature conditions. The wide operating voltage range of 3.5V to 36V, combined with 5μA (typ) of shutdown current, make the MAX16141 ideal for automotive applications. An integrated charge pump drives the gate of the back-to-back external nFETs 9V above the source connection, minimizing power loss between the source and the load.

A fast-acting comparator allows the MAX16141 to block reverse-current flow within 1μs (max) of the input falling below the output voltage. An external current-sense resistor between RS and OUT provides overload monitoring capability. Two input pins, OVSET and UVSET, provide set points to protect against input overvoltage and undervoltage events using a simple resistive-divider.

During startup, the MAX16141 monitors the voltage drop across the external nFETs (VIN - VOUT) to ensure VOUT is greater than 0.9 x VIN. Once the startup event is complete, the MAX16141 is ready to protect against systems faults. During normal operation, some systems experience brownouts or short interruptions of power. To ensure smooth system recovery from these interruptions, the MAX16141 includes a secondary power input (VCC) to keep critical circuits alive. When the main input power recovers, the MAX16141 enables the gate in fast mode (70μs, typ) to charge the output capacitor.

Additional features include a low-power mode that allows the MAX16141 to source limited power to the load, an internal switch that helps save power during shutdown mode, and a fault output that asserts during fault conditions.

The MAX16141 is available in a 4mm x 4mm x 0.75mm, 16-pin TQFN package and operates over the automotive temperature range of -40°C to +125°C.

Applications

● Automotive Power Systems

● Network/Telecom Power Systems

● RAID Systems

● Servers

● PoE Systems

Benefits and Features

● Wide Voltage Range

• 3.5V to 36V Operating Voltage Range

• -36V to +60V Protection Voltage Range

● Eliminates Discrete Diode Power Dissipation

● Low-Power Shutdown Reduces Battery Drain

• 5μA (Typ) Shutdown Current

• Term Switch Isolates UVLO and OVLO Circuitry in Shutdown

● Isolates Failed Supply from Load

• Bidirectional Current Blocking On Open

• Bidirectional Voltage Blocking On Open

● Current Protection

• Factory Adjustable Overcurrent Trip Thresholds

• Factory Adjustable Reverse-Current Trip Thresholds

● Resistor Adjustable Overvoltage and Undervoltage Trip Thresholds

● Automotive Qualified

• Operates Down to +3.5V, Riding Out Cold-Crank Conditions

• -40°C to +125°C Operating Temperature Range

● N-Channel MOSFET Gate Driver of VIN + 8V

● Fault Output

• UVLO, OVLO, Overcurrent, Reverse-Current, and Thermal Shutdown