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Application Notes
ATH Series of Wide-Output Adjust
Power Modules (12-V Input)
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Features of the ATH Family of Non-Isolated
Wide Output Adjust Power Modules
Point-of-Load Alliance
The ATH family of non-isolated, wide-output adjust
power modules from Texas Instruments are optimized
for applications that require a flexible, high performance
module that is small in size. These products are part of
the “Point-of-Load Alliance” (POLA), which ensures
compatible footprint, interoperability and true second
sourcing for customer design flexibility. The POLA is a
collaboration between Texas Instruments, Artesyn Tech-
nologies, and Astec Power to offer customers advanced
non-isolated modules that provide the same functionality
and form factor. Product series covered by the alliance
includes the ATH06 (6 A), ATH10 (10 A), ATH12/15
(12/15 A), ATH18/22 (18/22 A), and the ATH26/30 (26/
30 A).
From the basic, “Just Plug it In” functionality of the 6-A
modules, to the 30-A rated feature-rich ATH30 Series,
these products were designed to be very flexible, yet simple
to use. The features vary with each product. Table 3-1
provides a quick reference to the available features by
product and input bus voltage.
Table 3-1; Operating Features by Series and Input Bus Voltage
For simple point-of-use applications, the ATH06 (6A)
provides operating features such as an on/off inhibit,
output voltage trim, pre-bias startup (3.3/5-V input only), and
over-current protection. The ATH10 (10 A), and ATH12/
15 (12/15 A) include an output voltage sense, and margin
up/down controls. Then the higher output current,
ATH18/22 (18/22A) and ATH26/30 (26/30A) products incor-
porate over-temperature shutdown protection. All of the
products referenced in Table 3-1 include Auto-Track.
Power-Up Characteristics
When configured per their standard application all the
ATH products will produce a regulated output voltage fol-
lowing the application of a valid input source voltage. All
the modules include soft-start circuitry. This slows the initial
rate in which the output voltage can rise, thereby limiting
the amount of in-rush current that can be drawn from the
input source. The soft-start circuitry also introduces a short
time delay (typically 5 ms-10 ms) into the power-up
characteristic. This delay is from the point that a valid
input source is recognized, to the initial rise of the output
voltage. Figure 3-1 shows the power-up characteristic of
the 10-A output product (ATH10K12), operating from a
12-V input bus and configured for a 3.3-V output. The
waveforms were measured with a 5-A constant current
load. The initial rise in input current when the input
voltage first starts to rise is the charge current drawn by
the input capacitors.
Figure 3-1
Vin (5 V/Div)
Vo (2 V/Div)
Iin (2 A/Div)
HORIZ SCALE: 5 ms/Div
Over-Current Protection
For protection against load faults, all modules incorporate
output over-current protection. Applying a load that
exceeds the regulator’s over-current threshold will cause
the regulated output to shut down. Following shutdown, a
module will periodically attempt to recover by initiating
a soft-start power-up. This is described as a “hiccup” mode
of operation, whereby the module continues in a cycle of
successive shutdown and power up until the load fault is
removed. During this period, the average current flowing
into the fault is significantly reduced. Once the fault is
removed, the module automatically recovers and returns
to normal operation.
Series
Input Bus
I
OUT
3.3 V
6 A
5 V
6 A
12 V
6 A
3.3 V / 5 V
10 A
12 V
10 A
3.3 V / 5 V
15 A
12 V
12 A
3.3 V / 5 V
22 A
12 V
18 A
3.3 V / 5 V
30 A
12 V
26 A
PTHxx030
O
PTHxx010
PTHxx020
PTHxx050
PTHxx060
O
O
A
T
P
M
A
This is a feature unique to the ATH family, and was
specifically designed to simplify the task of sequencing the
supply voltage in a power system. These and other features
are described in the following sections.