Bidirectional Electronic Circuit Breaker Provides Comprehensive Protection Against Current and Voltage Faults

摘要

Linear Technology Corp. introduces the LTC4368, a circuit protection controller ensuring safe voltage and current levels for 2.5 V to 60 V electronics in battery-powered automotive, industrial and portable systems. The LTC4368 replaces fuses, transient voltage suppressors and discrete circuitry, enabling a compact and comprehensive solution for shielding electronics from damaging overcurrent and over-, under- and reverse-voltage conditions. The LTC4368 controls back-to-back N-channel MOSFETs to provide a low loss current path during normal operation, turning them off for overcurrent faults in the forward or reverse direction. The LTC4368-1 circuit breaker provides symmetric forward and reverse current thresholds to protect batteries from excessive charge and discharge currents. The LTC4368-2 circuit breaker trips off when reverse current is detected to prevent backfeeding and hold up the output.