Electronic load switch protects the power rail from over-current and over-voltage
The STELPD01 from STMicroelectronics is an integrated electronic load switch which protects the application’s power rail and provides a versatile alternative to a traditional fuse.
The STELPD01 detects over-current and over-voltage conditions, and applies protection in response. When an overload condition occurs, the device goes into an open state, disconnecting the load from the power supply. The STELPD01 can also drive an external power MOSFET to provide protection against power loss in fault conditions.
In the event of an over-voltage on the input, the device regulates the output to a preset value of 17.5 V. In addition, an under-voltage lock-out feature prevents the load from malfunctioning, by keeping the device in the Off state if the rail voltage is too low.
The STELPD01 features an adjustable turn-on slew rate. This is a useful feature for keeping inrush current under control during start-up and hot-swap operations.