Application Notes

ATH Series of Wide-Output Adjust Power

Modules (3.3/5-V Input)

North America (USA): 1-888-41-ASTEC

Europe (UK): 44(1384)842-211

Asia (HK): 852-2437-9662

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 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 Technologies, and Astec

Power to offer customers advanced non-isolated modules

that provide the same functionality and form factor. Prod-

uct 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 22-A output product (ATH22T05-9xx), operating from a

5-V input bus and configured for a 3.3-V output. The wave-

forms were measured with a 5-A resistive 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

Vo (2V/Div)

Iin (2A/Div)

Vin (5V/Div)

HORIZ SCALE: 10ms/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

3.3 V

6 A

•••

••

5 V

6 A

•••

••

12 V

6 A

•••

•

3.3 V / 5 V

10 A

•••

••••

12 V

8 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

PTHxx010

PTHxx020

PTHxx050

PTHxx060

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.

ATH10

ATH06

ATH12/15

ATH18/22

ATH26/30

10 A