To protect heavy-use consumer electronics, data communications and industrial applications, the eFuse Protection ICs provide sensing and control features in a single chip. Littelfuse has release four circuit protection ICs which have a design that provides a wide range of power input (3.3V to 28V) and integrated protection in the form of over-voltage, over-current, short circuit, inrush current, reverse current, and over-temperature protection with real-time diagnostics in a single chip.

The four eFuse Protection ICs are the LS0504EVT233, offering 5V, 4A, over-voltage, over-current protection in an SOT23-3 package, the LS0505EVD22, a 5V, 5A device with over-voltage and over-current protection in a DFN 2.0 x 2.0mm package, the LS1205ExD33, an 18V, 5A IC with programmable current limit and output voltage clamp in a DFN 3.0 x 3.0mm package and the LS2406ERQ23, 28V, 6A true reverse block, fast role swap IC in a QFN 2.5 x 3.2mm package.

The circuit protection fuses can be used in Bluetooth headsets, wearable devices, PCs as well as tablets and notebooks, charging cables, battery-powered and adapter powered devices, networking and datacomms power systems, fan control HDD and SDD storage drives and industrial equipment with 12/24V power I/O.   

The ICs provide an accurate current limiter, with faster response time and more integrated protection features than traditional fuses and PTCs, says the company. They provide flexibility with adjustable over-voltage threshold, current limiting, and inrush current protection, with true reverse current blocking. They also save PCB space and bill of material cost, claims Littelfuse, with reduced design-in phase and time to market compared to typical discrete solutions, such as a hot-swap controller and MOSFET combination, says the company.

Other benefits are claimed to be improved product reliability, increased battery life, lower repair costs, and longer overall product lifetime.

“The eFuse Protection ICs provide today’s electronics designers with significant flexibility by integrating robust circuit protection, sensing, and control in a single chip,” said Bernie Hsieh, assistant product manager of the Protection Semiconductor business team at Littelfuse. “Providing a low power consumption, high accuracy current limiting circuit with quick response time makes them a win-win-win for many portable electronics and datacom applications,” he adds.

The eFuse Protection ICs are available in tape and reel format in quantities through authorised Littelfuse distributors worldwide.