Hot-Swap Power Controller supports PCI Express requirements.
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Press Release Summary:
Model MIC2592A is a 3-rail by dual-slot power controller with SMBus interface, integrating all circuitry for controlling external MOSFETs for +12 and +3.3 V rails. For +3.3 VAUX rails, unit integrates control circuitry, current sense, and power MOSFETs. For all 3 rails, controller offers adjustable overcurrent timeout, electronic circuit-breaker fault protection, input undervoltage lockout, output voltage monitoring, and output voltage slew rate control.
Original Press Release:
Micrel Launches First PCI Express Hot-Swap Power Controller and Targets High-Reliability Applications
o Complies with the latest PCI Express power control specifications
o Supports three voltage supplies and includes an SMBus interface for sophisticated power management
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- (February 5, 2004) - The first hot-swap power controller IC to support the current PCI Express power control requirements is announced today by Micrel Semiconductor (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog and power management integrated circuits.
Produced in a board space-saving 48-pin TQFP package, the MIC2592A is a three-rail-by-dual-slot power controller that supports all system voltages required by PCI Express. An SMBus interface is incorporated to allow for sophisticated power management. Importantly, the new device integrates all the necessary circuitry for controlling external MOSFETs for the high-current +12V and +3.3V rails. For the +3.3VAUX rails, the MIC2592A also integrates all control circuitry, current sense, and power MOSFETs. For all three rails, the MIC2592A offers adjustable overcurrent timeout, electronic circuit-breaker fault protection, input undervoltage lockout, output voltage monitoring, and output voltage slew rate control.
The MIC2592A regulates the output current under fault conditions to ensure that inrush currents never exceed a user-programmed threshold. This feature improves the performnance of a system with highly capacitive loads associated with many PCI Express adapter cards. In addition, the MIC2592A's DC performance has been enhanced with tighter primary and secondary circuit breaker threshold voltages and a high-accuracy overcurrent timer circuit. Smaller power MOSFETs and a more compact PCB layout for the application combine to lower overall system cost.
For enhanced system performance monitoring, the specific cause of a fault in any of a slot's three supplies is recorded in internal registers and is accessible via the SMBus interface.
Since system reliability is a key attribute in network servers for example, the MIC2592A has been designed to address next-generation PCI Express power control applications with the additional flexibility and better parametric performance demanded by network system engineers.
The MIC2592A is available now in a 48-pin TQFP package for $6.95 each when purchased in 25,000-piece OEM quantities.
Summary of Features & Applications:
MIC2592A Hot Swap Power Controller for PCI Express Applications
Features
o Complies with PCI Express v1.0 power control requirements
o Three voltage supplies supported: +12V, +3.3V, and +3.3VAUX
- High-side +12V gate driver circuits for external P-channel MOSFETs
- High-side +3.3V gate driver circuits for external N-channel MOSFETs
- Integrated 3.3VAUX gate driver circuits, current sense, and power MOSFETs
o Programmable inrush current limiting with active current regulation to control inrush current
o Dual-level, dual-speed overcurrent detection for quick fault response without nuisance tripping
o Allows for smaller MOSFETs and less PCB space for lower system cost
o Comes in a 48-pin TQFP package
o A high-accuracy, user-adjustable overcurrent detection timer eliminates false or 'nuisance' tripping of the primary electronic circuit-breaker
o Slot power control with "Power-is-Good' and fault status reporting:
- Via software over the SMBus interface or
- Via dedicated hardware input/output lines -- Hot-Plug Interface, or HPI
o Voltage-tolerant I/O for compatibility with SMBus v2.0 systems
o One General Purpose Input (GPI) pin per slot for mechanical switch or plug-in card retention/removal input
Applications
o Mid- and High-end PCI Express Servers that demand high-reliability
o General-purpose, PCI Express Hot-plug Power Control
Micrel Semiconductor is a leading manufacturer of advanced, high performance communications, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver, mixed signal, analog and power ICs. These products include devices for fiber-optic telecommunications and networking, cellular telephones, servers, portable computer systems, computer peripherals, process control systems, consumer electronics and, power supplies.
