Integrated Power Devices Drive Loads Safely, Efficiently (.PDF Download)

Power is an important aspect of any design, but distributing it safely and efficiently throughout your circuit boards and subassemblies can be challenging. To distribute voltage to the power-supply rails, you can employ discrete MOSFETs and a handful of passive components.

An alternative is to employ an integrated power device that not only distributes voltage, but also can offer additional features such as inrush current control, adjustable current limit, short-circuit protection, reverse-polarity protection, overvoltage protection, thermal shutdown, and current monitoring—all while keeping BOM count and circuit-board real estate to a minimum.