POWER AND LINEAR IC SOLUTIONS

Octal Power Supply Monitoring IC

Modern networking equipment is under great pressure to increase data throughput and performance, while keeping overall power consumption to a minimum. Line cards with 30 to 40 different rail voltages are not uncommon and often prove difficult to manage. Users need to be able to adjust supply voltages easily, while reading parameters like voltage, current or temperature via an accessible interface.



Linear Technology’s LTC2978 octal PMBus-compliant power supply monitor and controller with built-in EEPROM offers an easy solution to this complex issue, as it is equipped with the necessary functions to address today’s most demanding multi-rail digital power management systems. Its PMBus functions include warning and fault OV/UV threshold pairs for eight output channels and one input channel. Programmable fault response allows power supplies to be disabled with optional retry after a fault has been detected.

PMBus commands support power supply sequencing and precision point-of-load voltage servo to one of three programmed values: margin high, margin low and nominal. A programmable watchdog timer monitors microprocessor activity for a stalled condition and resets it if necessary. The 1-wire synchronisation bus supports power supply sequencing across multiple LTC2978 devices. User programmable parameters can be stored on the EEPROM. Voltage supervisor, voltage monitor and temperature faults can also be logged here.



The device boasts 0.25% accuracy and a resolution of 122µV when measuring voltage and 15.6µV when measuring current. The LTC2978 performs all of its functions without any intervention from a host processor for truly autonomous operation. It communicates with PMBus compliant devices at up to 400kHz, supporting over 75 standard command functions, as well as proprietary commands that provide innovative value-added features. Firmware development time is drastically minimised thanks to intuitive LTpowerPlay GUI.

Features

• PMBus-compliant interface and command set
• Configuration EEPROM
• Fault logging to internal EEPROM
• Differential inputs
• Monitors 8 output channels
• Programmable watchdog timer
• Eight UV/OV voltage supervisors
• Eight 10-bit voltage-buffered IDACs with soft connect
• Supports multi-channel fault management
• On-chip digital temperature sensor
• Available in 64-pin 9mm × 9mm QFN package

Applications

• Server systems
• Network computing
• Telecommunications infrastructure

For further information, to register your interest in a Free Demo Board*, or to obtain a copy of the latest Altera/LTC Development Tools Brochure, LTC New Products Guide or LTC2978 Datasheet, please click here

* Free demo boards are limited to current or potential Arrow customers with valid opportunities and are at the discretion of local Arrow representatives.

Note: Linear Technology is franchised with Arrow in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, UK and Ireland.