Intelligent power switch

7 July 2010 Power Electronics / Power Management

STMicroelectronics has introduced an intelligent power switch for use in industrial controls, which provides improved accuracy to minimise energy losses and prevent system errors when faults occur. These characteristics are achieved using ST’s latest generation VIPower technology, which allows a low overload current limit to maintain stable power conditions while the system is recovering.

By providing an integrated solution for two output channels, the VNI2140J also simplifies design and saves printed circuit board space in equipment such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), peripheral I/O, industrial process controls, robotic systems, vending machines, alarm and security systems, and textile machines. The IC has a 6 x 5 mm footprint and integrates all the necessary logic, driver circuitry, power stage, protection and diagnostic functions. The chip’s inputs are 3,3 V TTL/CMOS compatible, its outputs are connected in the high-side configuration, and two independent resistive, inductive or capacitive loads can be driven.

The chip’s built-in shorted-load protection with independent active current limitation for each channel prevents load faults from pulling down the system power supply. If either channel becomes overloaded, that channel is turned off independently while the other continues operating normally, and it is restarted automatically when the junction temperature has returned to normal. If both channels are overloaded, they are restarted non-simultaneously to avoid drawing high peak currents from the power supply. Other features helping designers to deliver rugged, highly featured solutions include protection against loss of ground, as well as diagnostics such as open-load detection in the OFF state.

For more information contact Robin Scholes, Avnet Kopp, +27 (0)11 809 6100, [email protected], www.avnet.co.za

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