Linear Technology LTC2911 three-channel supply monitor

Linear Technology Corporation has introduced the LTC2911 three-channel supply monitor with power-fail warning for low-voltage systems down to 0.5 V. In certain applications, monitoring the main input supply is just as important as monitoring the intermediate bus voltages to provide the host with an early warning of supply failure and signal shutdown procedures.

The device offers a power-fail input and output to support this function, in addition to three voltage inputs, with 1.5% threshold accuracy over the entire operating temperature range.

The monitor is suitable for a wide variety of applications, including network servers, desktop or notebook computers, and motor vehicle or industrial electronics.

The first channel monitors 3.3 V, the second channel monitors preset values between 1.2 and 5 V and the third channel is adjustable down to 0.5 V. This allows the device to be ported to similar designs with differing supply voltages.

Glitch filtering ensures reliable reset operation by minimising false triggers. The reset timeout period can be selected internally (200 ms) to minimise component count or externally adjusted.

The same reset timer pin can also be used to latch the reset pin status and override reset operation, which is useful in margining applications, where it is common to test systems at supply voltages that might otherwise cause the system to reset.

The monitor is available in a variety of voltage options, depending on which three voltages need to be monitored. Commercial and industrial versions offer different operating temperature ranges, from 0 to 70°C and -40 to 85°C.