Detailed Description
The MAX15009/MAX15011 integrate a 300mA LDO
voltage regulator, a current-limited switched output,
and an OVP controller (MAX15009 only). These devices
operate over a wide supply voltage range from 5V to
40V and are able to withstand load-dump transients up
to 45V.
The MAX15009/MAX15011 feature a 300mA LDO regu-
lator that consumes 70µA of current under light-load
conditions and feature a fixed 5V or an adjustable out-
put voltage (1.8V to 11V). Connect FB_LDO to ground
to select a fixed 5V output voltage or select the LDO
output voltage by connecting an external resistive volt-
age-divider at FB_LDO. The regulator sources at least
300mA of current and includes a current limit of 330mA
(min). Enable the LDO by pulling EN_LDO high.
The switch features accurate current-limit sensing cir-
cuitry and is capable of controlling remote loads. Once
enabled, an internal charge pump generates the over-
drive voltage for an internal MOSFET. The switch then
starts to conduct and OUT_SW is charged up to
VOUT_LDO. The switch is enabled when the output volt-
age of the LDO is above the RESET threshold voltage
(92.5% of the LDO nominal output value).
An overcurrent condition exists when the current at
OUT_SW, IOUT_SW, exceeds the 200mA (typ) internal
factory-set current-limit threshold or the externally
adjustable current-limit threshold. During a continuous
overcurrent event, the capacitor connected at
OC_DELAY, COC_DELAY, is charged up to a voltage of
1.235V with a current, IOC_DELAY_UP. When this voltage
is reached, an overcurrent latch is set and the gate of
the internal MOSFET is discharged, reducing IOUT_SW.
COC_DELAY is then discharged through a pulldown cur-
rent, IOC_DELAY_DOWN (IOC_DELAY_UP / 16) and the
internal MOSFET remains off until COC_DELAY has been
discharged to 0.1V. After this user-programmable turn-
off delay, the switch turns back on. This charge/
discharge is repeated if the overcurrent condition per-
sists. The switch returns to normal operation once the
overcurrent condition has been removed.
The OVP controller (MAX15009 only) relies on an exter-
nal MOSFET with adequate voltage rating (VDSS) to
protect downstream circuitry from overvoltage tran-
sients. The OVP controller drives the gate of the exter-
nal n-channel MOSFET, and is configurable to operate
as an overvoltage protection switch or as a closed-loop
voltage limiter.
GATE Voltage (MAX15009 Only)
The MAX15009 uses a high-efficiency charge pump to
generate the GATE voltage for the external n-channel
MOSFET. Once the input voltage, VIN, exceeds the
undervoltage lockout (UVLO) threshold, the internal
charge pump fully enhances the external n-channel
MOSFET. An overvoltage condition occurs when the
voltage at FB_PROT goes above the threshold voltage,
VTH_PROT. After VTH_PROT is exceeded, GATE is quick-
ly pulled to PGND with a 63mA pulldown current. The
MAX15009 includes an internal clamp from GATE to
SOURCE that ensures that the voltage at GATE never
exceeds one diode drop below SOURCE during gate
discharge. The voltage clamp also prevents the GATE-
to-SOURCE voltage from exceeding the absolute maxi-
mum rating for the VGS of the external MOSFET in case
the source terminal is accidentally shorted to 0V.
Overvoltage Monitoring (MAX15009 Only)
The OVP controller monitors the voltage at FB_PROT
and controls an external n-channel MOSFET, isolating,
or limiting the load during an overvoltage condition.
Operation in OVP switch mode or limiter mode
depends on the connection between FB_PROT and the
external MOSFET.
Overvoltage Switch Mode
When operating in OVP switch mode, the FB_PROT
divider is connected to the drain of the external MOS-
FET. The feedback path consists of the voltage-divider
tapped at FB_PROT, FB_PROT’s internal comparator,
the internal gate charge pump/gate pulldown, and the
external n-channel MOSFET (Figure 1). When the pro-
grammed overvoltage threshold is exceeded, the inter-
nal comparator quickly pulls GATE to ground and turns
MAX15009/MAX15011
Automotive 300mA LDO Regulators with
Switched Output and Overvoltage Protector
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