NPS3102A and NPS3102B operate with 9 to 18V on the input (21V abs. max) and can limit output current to anywhere between 2 and 13.5A range, programmed using a resistor – the voltage across which can be used to monitor load current in real time.
This is not the only multi-function pad, as the ‘enable’ input pad also outputs a voltage that indicates faulty or normal operation (see diagram). Leave it floating to enable the output, or pull low via an open collector/drain to disable the output.
Output slew rate is controlled by a capacitor on a third pad.
The difference between the two devices is that the ‘A’ suffix version needs manual resetting after a fault, while the B version automatically attempts to re-start.
Input under-voltage lock-out is implemented at ~8V, as is output over-voltage limiting at ~15V.
On top of output current limiting, a short-circuit protection block shuts the output off within 2μs when activated, and internal over-temperature detection also shuts-down the output.
Consumption is typically 320µA, dropping to 100µA with the output disabled.
For more output current, up to three of the devices can be paralleled, sharing a single (triple size) slew capacitor and a single (third size) current limit resistor.
Applications are foreseen managing data center storage drives, servers, ethernet switches and routers, or, outside the data centre, in mobile communications infrastructure and industrial automation equipment.
