Board-level hot swap protection without a pass FET
The MAX4370ESA+ is a single-channel hot swap controller from Analog Devices' DualSpeed/BiLevel™ series, designed to manage inrush current and protect against overcurrent faults on a live-backplane card insertion. It operates from a 2.7V to 13.2V supply rail and draws 600 µA quiescent current, making it suitable for 3.3V, 5V, or 12V backplane environments where the controller itself must not load the bus. The part does not integrate the pass switch internally — the external N-channel MOSFET is selected by the designer based on the load current and thermal budget, giving flexibility for high-current or high-temperature applications.
Programmable protection and fault handling
Three programmable features — circuit breaker threshold, current limit, and fault timeout — let the designer set the trip point and retry behavior to match the load capacitance and the supply's sag tolerance. Built-in undervoltage lockout (UVLO) and overvoltage protection (OVP) prevent the external MOSFET from turning on outside the safe operating range, and a latched fault output holds the off state until the fault is cleared or power is cycled.
8-SOIC footprint and surface-mount assembly
The surface-mount package suits automated pick-and-place assembly, and the tube packaging aligns with prototype or low-volume production runs.
Active lifecycle and compliance status
ROHS3 compliant per the manufacturer's declaration, with no lead, mercury, cadmium, or other restricted substances above the threshold limits.