Load switches provide smart power delivery solutions for modern digital ICs

Diodes Incorporated has expanded its DML30xx series smart load switches. The four new products, DML3008LFDS, DML3010ALFDS, DML3011ALFDS, and DML3012LDC, provide high-current (10.5A to 15A) power domain switching control for voltage rails from 0.5V to 20V. Through the array of embedded functions, these devices are highly effective at handling all aspects of power delivery to MCUs, graphic cards, ASICs, FPGAs, and memory chips. They are ideal for power management in servers, computing hardware, networking infrastructure, gateways, SSDs, notebooks, tablets, industrial equipment, hot-swappable devices, and peripheral ports.

Including a chip-on-chip arrangement that sees the controller chip in each device stacked on top of a low RDS(ON) N-channel power MOSFET, these devices occupy an ultra-compact footprint to provide improved power density. Their large underside heat pads maximise thermal efficiency to lower operating temperature and enhance reliability. Power consumption is minimised due to their <150mA(typ.) on-state current and 0.1mA(typ.) standby mode.

The high degree of feature integration that these load switches provide minimises additional circuitry requirements – achieving decreased component count, smaller PCB area, and accelerated time to market. To maintain system reliability and maximise uptime, a comprehensive choice of safeguards and monitoring features are offered. These enable designers to select the optimum combination to fit their applications. These include short-circuit and overcurrent protection, undervoltage lockout, power good signal, and soft-start to limit inrush current to an acceptable level. Also, all devices provide quick discharge capabilities to ensure controlled rail power-down and thermal shutdown protection.