Allows Safe Board Insertion into Live Backplane
Wide Operating Voltage Range: 6.5V to 80V
Drives Two Gates for High Power Applications
Configurable Parallel, Staged Start or Single MOSFET Modes
Adjustable Precision Current Limit: 6mV to 20mV
Current Foldback Limits MOSFET Power
SOA Timer Optimizes MOSFET Capability
Monitors VGS and VDS for MOSFET Health
12V Gate Drive for Lower MOSFET RDS(ON)
Parallelable Controllers for Very High Current Levels
Available in 24-Lead Narrow SSOP and 24-Pin 4mm × 5mm QFN Packages

The LTC4238 is a high voltage high current Hot Swap controller that allows a board to be safely inserted and removed from a live backplane. Dual 12V gate drive is well suited for high power applications to either share safe operating area across parallel MOSFETs or support a 2-stage start-up that first charges the load capacitance followed by enabling a low on-resistance path to the load.

The device features active current limiting (ACL) with two foldback options as VDS increases. The constant power profile limits the power dissipation to be no higher than a fixed value, while the high power profile allows the part to ride through large input steps during operation.

The LTC4238 notifies when output power is good. In addition, it has protection features that respond to input undervoltage, overvoltage; and generate a fault when there is an overcurrent or FET bad condition.

Live Board Insertion in 12V, 24V and 48V Systems
Industrial High Side Switch/Circuit Breaker
Computers, Servers
Vehicle Electrical Systems

Parameter Name	Parameter Value