29th April - Texas Instruments introduced the industry's first single-chip, dual-slot hot swap manager for Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AdvancedMCTM) used in wireless, telecom and computing systems, including custom, AdvancedTCA (ATCA) and MicroTCA systems. The device significantly improves the flexibility and performance of hot swap power management design in applications ranging from 3G/Beyond 3G wireless base stations and network equipment to high-end data communications.

TI's I2C-programmable TPS2359 hot swap controller ( above ) performs all necessary power interface functions for two AdvancedMCs, while requiring the fewest possible external components. The controller eliminates up to 75 percent of the components required in competing solutions. Enabling seamless "plug-and-play" insertion and removal of AdvancedMCs during system operation, the device's two fully integrated 3.3-V channels provide inrush control, over-current protection and FET ORing control functionality. In addition, two 12-V channels provide the same functions using external FETs and sense resistors. The controller's 3.3-V current limits are set at the factory to AdvancedMC-compliant levels and the 12-V current limits can be programmed using external resistors.

The TPS2359's integrated ORing control capability simplifies power design for MicroTCA power modules or other implementations that manage redundant power in the AdvancedMC slot. When used with a low Rdson N-channel MOSFET, the controller seamlessly manages power distribution, while protecting the system from potentially dangerous reverse-current or transient events by providing an extremely fast turn-off response of 130 nanoseconds.

Digital configuration and monitoring

The highly flexible controller's I2C interface allows a designer to digitally configure and monitor the AdvancedMC hot swap solution over a two-wire bus -- and with fewer required external components and pins. This interface programs current limit, fast-trip threshold and fault time. The TPS2359 also features enable or disable of the ORing, multi-channel cross-connect and auto-retry.

For digital power supply systems, this allows designers to better manage the system's overall performance. For example, a hot swap solution with the TPS2359 can alert the system of any over-current, fast-trip and current-limit situation. For designers who do not want to use a digital interface, TI offers the TPS2358 controller with dedicated output pins and configuration capability using external components.

Building momentum for ATCA and MicroTCA

In 2002, the PCI Industrial Computing Manufacturers Group (PICMG) released the industry-wide ATCA as an open standard, which addresses the growth and changes in the communications infrastructure market. MicroTCA was developed as a follow-on standard, further extending the ATCA open platform into applications requiring scalability and redundancy in distributed environments.

"Internet capacity and the growth of wireless networks continue to place pressure on equipment makers and designers to adopt the ATCA or MicroTCA standards," said Jim Bird, TI systems engineer, and board member of the ATCA and MicroTCA standards committees. "The TPS2359 and TPS2358 are the only multiple-voltage output hot swap controllers compliant to ATCA and MicroTCA. This achievement will only increase TI's ability to solve key power design challenges and open the door to allow more rapid adoption."

High-performance analog and communications infrastructure solutions

TI offers innovation and support to meet the energy management design needs of wireless, telecom, computing and industrial manufacturers. In addition to power management, TI provides the industry's broadest communications infrastructure product portfolio, including digital up/down converters, high-speed data converters, RF products, timing, backplane interface, standard logic components and high-performance single and multi-core DSP solutions. TI's new Communications Infrastructure Guide is at www.ti.com/communicationsinfrastructure.

Pricing and Availability

The TPS2359 and TPS2358 are available today in volume from TI and its authorized distributors. The TPS2359 comes in a space-saving 36-pin, PQFN package with a suggested resale price of $5.00 in 1,000-piece quantities. The TPS2358 is available in a 48-pin QFN with a suggested resale price of $4.00 in 1,000-piece quantities. Evaluation modules of the TPS2358/9, design application notes and new Power Management Guide are available for download at power.ti.com.