Hot Swap Controller with Individually Controlled Parallel Current Paths

摘要

An apparatus comprises an input node, a power rail to power a circuit load, and multiple current paths coupled in parallel with each other between the input node and the power rail. Each current path respectively provides a sense output to indicate current in the path and a current switch having a control input to control the current in the path. A control circuit, coupled to each control input individually and to each sense output individually, controls the current in each path individually based on the indicated current therein after a non-zero input voltage is initially applied to the input node, such that all of the paths concurrently conduct current from the input node to the power rail and collectively cause a total inrush current and corresponding voltage at the power rail to gradually increase.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
an input node; a power rail to power a circuit load; multiple current paths coupled in parallel with each other between the input node and the power rail, each current path respectively providing a sense output to indicate current in the path and including a current switch having a control input to control the current; and a control circuit coupled to each control input individually and to each sense output individually, the control circuit configured to control the current in each path individually based on the indicated current therein after a non-zero input voltage is initially applied to the input node, such that all of the paths concurrently conduct current from the input node to the power rail and collectively cause a total inrush current and corresponding voltage at the power rail to gradually increase.