LTC4217IFE - Hot Swap Controller from Linear Technology

The LTC4217IFE is a sophisticated hot swap controller designed by Linear Technology to enable safe board insertion and removal from a live backplane. This component provides a controlled ramp-up of the supply voltage to the load, thereby preventing glitches on the supply rail and protecting both the backplane and the card from the effects of large inrush currents.

Key Features

• Integrated MOSFET: The LTC4217IFE features an on-chip N-channel MOSFET that allows for a compact and efficient design, reducing the number of external components required.
• Adjustable Current Limit: Users can set the desired inrush current limit via an external resistor, providing flexibility for different applications and preventing excessive current from damaging sensitive components.
• Overcurrent Protection: This hot swap controller includes fast-acting circuitry to detect overcurrent conditions, ensuring quick response times to potential fault conditions.
• Undervoltage and Overvoltage Lockout: The LTC4217IFE protects connected devices from operating at voltages outside their specified ranges, enhancing system reliability.
• Power Good Output: An integrated power good output signal indicates when the output voltage is within a specified range, enabling downstream logic to commence operation at the appropriate time.
• Thermal Shutdown: The device includes a thermal shutdown feature that provides additional protection by turning off the MOSFET if the die temperature exceeds a safe threshold.
• Compact Package: The LTC4217IFE is offered in a compact 16-lead TSSOP package, suitable for space-constrained applications.

Applications

The LTC4217IFE is ideal for a variety of applications that require hot-swap capabilities, including servers, RAID systems, telecom equipment, and other high-availability systems where maintenance or upgrades need to be performed without powering down the system.

Product Summary

Linear Technology's LTC4217IFE hot swap controller is a versatile and robust solution for protecting electronic systems during hot insertion and removal. It provides precise control over inrush currents, comprehensive protection features, and a compact form factor, making it a valuable component for ensuring system stability and reliability in hot-swap applications.