April 3, 2014 — Micrel Korea (CEO Young Jun Oh, www.micrel.com), a leading industry provider of high-performance analog and high-speed mixed-signal solutions including LAN, timing and communications solutions, announced the MIC94161/62/63/64/65 family of high-side load switches that deliver up to 3A of continuous current in a compact 1mm x 1.5mm wafer-level chip-scale package, with on-resistance as low as 14.5mΩ. These compact devices provide complete reverse-current protection across an extended input voltage range from 1.7V to 5.5V. Consequently, they are ideal for low-power and space-constrained applications such as smartphones, tablets, mobile computers, set-top boxes, and SSDs (Solid State Drives). Samples of the MIC9416x family are available for order online.

Brian Hedayati, Vice President of Marketing for Micrel's high-performance linear and power solutions division, stated: "This next-generation load switch provides compact, low-power consumption. With high current and fail-safe functionality combined with ultra-low on-resistance characteristics, this device is ideal for space-constrained battery-powered portable applications." He further noted: "Additionally, this device features complete reverse-current protection circuitry, reducing design complexity while providing system isolation and protection functions. Its controllable slew rate can prevent system glitches on any power rail."

Other features of this device include an active pull-down circuit that discharges the output capacitor when the device is turned off (MIC94162/MIC94164), an internal soft-start function that reduces inrush input current (MIC94161/MIC94164/MIC94165), and input overvoltage protection (MIC94161). These devices operate over a temperature range of -40ºC to +125ºC.