LTC4376
7
Rev. A
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OPERATION
The LTC4376 is a single positive voltage ideal diode con-
troller that drives an internal N-channel MOSFET as a
pass transistor to replace a Schottky diode. The IN and
OUT pins form the anode and cathode of the ideal diode,
respectively. The input supply is connected to the IN
pins, while the OUT pin serves as the output. Both the
INK and OUTK pins are connected directly to IN and OUT
respectively.
The GATE amplifier (see Block Diagram) senses across INK
and OUTK and drives the gate of the internal MOSFET to
regulate the forward voltage to 30mV. As the load current
increases, GATE is driven higher until a point is reached
where the internal MOSFET is fully on. Further increases
in load current result in a forward drop of RDS(ON)•ILOAD.
If the load current is reduced, the GATE amplifier drives
the MOSFET gate lower to maintain a 30mV drop. If the
input voltage is reduced to a point where a forward drop
of 30mV cannot be supported, the GATE amplifier drives
the MOSFET off.
Blocking diodes are commonly placed in series with
supply inputs for the purpose of ORing redundant power
sources and protecting against supply reversal. The
LTC4376 replaces diodes in these applications to reduce
both the voltage drop and power loss associated with a
passive solution.
The LTC4376 has a wide operating range of 4V to 40V
which allows operation during cold crank conditions and
transient conditions. The LTC4376 also protects against
negative inputs to –40V, which can occur when the auto-
motive battery is reversed.
A 12V/7A ideal diode application is shown in Figure1a.
Ideal diodes, like their non-ideal counterparts, exhibit a
behavior known as reverse recovery. In combination with
In the event of a rapid drop in input voltage, such as an
input short-circuit fault or negative-going voltage spike,
reverse current briefly flows through the MOSFET until it
shuts off. This current is provided by any load capacitance
and by other supplies or batteries that feed the output in
diode-OR applications. The FPD COMP (Fast Pull-Down
Comparator) quickly responds to this condition by turning
the MOSFET off in 300ns, thus minimizing the disturbance
to the output bus.
The IN, INK, CS, GATE and SHDN pins are protected
against reverse inputs of up to –40V. The NEGATIVE
COMP detects negative input potentials at the CS pin and
quickly pulls GATE to CS, turning off the MOSFET and
isolating the load from the negative input.
When pulled low, the SHDN pin turns off most of the
internal circuitry, reducing the quiescent current to 9µA
and holding the MOSFET off. The SHDN pin may be either
driven high or pulled up with a resistor of 1MΩ or less
to enable the LTC4376. In applications where an external
MOSFET is used in series with the internal MOSFET, the
SHDN pin serves as an on/off control for the forward path,
as well as enabling the diode function.
parasitic or intentionally introduced inductances, reverse
recovery spikes may be generated by an ideal diode dur-
ing commutation. D1, D2 and R1 protect against these
spikes which might otherwise exceed the LTC4376’s –40V
to 40V survival rating. If reverse input protection is not
needed, Figure1a can be simplified to Figure1b. D1 and
COUT absorb the reverse recovery energy and protect the
LTC4376. Spikes and protection schemes are discussed
in detail in the Input Short-Circuit Faults section.
It is important to note that the SHDN pin, while dis-
abling the LTC4376 and reducing its current consump-
tion to 9µA, does not disconnect the load from the input
since the internal MOSFET’s body diode is ever-present.
Adding an external MOSFET permits use in load switching
applications.
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION