Smart slave IC integrates current and temperature sensors

Now available from Mouser stock, Maxim Integrated's VT1697SB is a feature-rich smart slave IC designed to work with its seventh-generation masters to implement a high-density multiphase voltage regulator. Up to six smart slave ICs, plus a master IC, provide a compact synchronous buck converter that includes accurate individual phase-current and temperature reporting via SMBus/PMBus. This smart slave device includes protection circuits for over-temperature, VX short, all power supplies UVLO faults and main power supply OVLO fault. If a fault is detected, the slave IC will immediately shut down and send a fault signal to the master IC. Monolithic integration and advanced packaging technologies allow practical per-phase, high switching frequencies with significantly lower losses than alternative implementations. Smart slave devices are designed to support phase-shedding and DCM modes for efficiency optimization over a wide range of load currents. High per-phase current-capability with low COUT enable a design with fewer phases and a smaller footprint. The VT1697SB is packaged in a QFN package with exposed topside thermal pads. Top-side cooling allows improved heat transfer to ambient and reduces PC board and component temperatures. Applications include communication and networking equipment, servers and storage equipment, high-current voltage regulators, networking ASICs, FPGAs, microprocessor chipsets and memory systems.