Switched output regulators

Maxim has released the MAX15009/MAX15011 integrated, 300 mA motor vehicle linear regulators with a switched output and load-dump protection.

Designed to withstand harsh operating conditions, these low-dropout (LDO) regulators operate over a 5 to 40 V supply, protect against load-dump transients up to 45 V and provide short-circuit and thermal-shutdown protection. To save space, the devices provide an additional low-resistance switched output that can be used to independently power remote loads.

This features a current-limit sensing circuit with an adjustable current limit, as well as adjustable current-limit fault blanking and autoretry delay.

They are suitable for instrument clusters, infotainment systems, telematics and climate control applications.

They provide independent enable inputs for the linear regulator, switched output and overvoltage protector (15009 only) for better control of each function. Offering low power consumption, the regulators consume 70 µA of quiescent current in a standalone configuration and 16 µA in shutdown mode.

The devices provide enable and hold inputs for ‘key off’ conditions. To further save cost and improve performance, the 15009 integrates an overvoltage-protection controller that can be configured as a switch controller or as a voltage limiter. This protects downstream circuits from high-voltage load dump, thus enabling the use of lower cost DC-DCs.