
INPUT ORing – TYPICAL CONNECTION
Optional Connection
Plug-In Unit
S
T
A
T
S
T
A
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SYSTEM DESIGN AND BEHAVIOR WITH TRANSIENTS
RECOMMENDED OPERATING RANGE
SLVS728B – JANUARY 2007 – REVISED SEPTEMBER 2008.......................................................................................................................................... www.ti.com
Figure 13 shows how redundant buses may be ORed to a common point to achieve higher reliability. It is
possible to have both MOSFETs ON at once if the bus voltages are matched, or the combination of tolerance
and regulation causes both TPS2412/13 circuits to see a forward voltage. The ORing MOSFET disconnects the
lower-voltage bus, protecting the remaining bus from potential overload by a fault.
Figure 13. Example ORing of Input Power Buses
The power system, perhaps consisting of multiple supplies, interconnections, and loads, is unique for every
product. A power distribution has low impedance, and low loss, which yields high Q by its nature. While the
addition of lossy capacitors helps at low frequencies, their benefit at high frequencies is compromised by
parasitics. Transient events with rise times in the 10 ns range may be caused by inserting or removing units, load
fluctuations, switched loads, supply fluctuations, power supply ripple, and shorts. These transients cause the
distribution to ring, creating a situation where ORing controllers may trip off unnecessarily. In particular, when an
ORing device turns off due to a reverse current fault, there is an abrupt interruption of the current, causing a fast
ringing event. Since this ringing occurs at the same point in the topology as the other ORing controllers, they are
the most likely to be effected.
The ability to operate in the presence of noise and transients is in direct conflict with the goal of precise ORing
with rapid response to actual faults. A fast response reduces peak stress on devices, reduces transients, and
promotes un-interrupted system operation. However, a control with small thresholds and high speed is most
likely to be falsely tripped by transients that are not the result of a fault. The power distribution system should be
designed to control the transient voltages seen by fast-responding devices such as ORing and hotswap devices.
While some applications may find it possible to use RSET to avoid false tripping, the TPS2410/11 provides
features beyond the TPS2412/13 including fast-comparator input filtering and STAT to dynamically shift the
turn-off threshold.
The maximum recommended bus voltage is lower than the absolute maximum voltage ratings on A, C, and VDD
solely to provide some margin for transients on the bus. Most power systems experience transient voltages
above the normal operating level. Short transients, or voltage spikes, may be clamped by the ORing MOSFET to
an output capacitor and/or voltage rail depending on the system design. Transient protection, e.g. a TVS diode
(transient voltage suppressor, a type of Zener diode), may be required on the input or output if the system design
does not inherently limit transient voltages below the TPS2412/13 absolute maximum ratings. If a TVS is
required, it must protect to the absolute maximum ratings at the worst case clamping current. The TPS2412/13
will operate properly up to the absolute maximum voltage ratings on A, C, and VDD.
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