This pin can be used to configure the TPS1685x as
a primary device in a chain along with other TPS1685x eFuses, designated as
secondary devices. This feature allows some of the TPS1685x pin functions to be
changed to aid the primary and secondary parallel connection.
This pin is sampled at power up. Leaving the pin
open configures the pin as a primary or standalone device. Connecting this pin to
GND configures the pin as a secondary device.
The following functions are disabled in secondary mode and the device relies on the primary device to provide this functionality:
- IREF internal current source
- DVDT internal current source
- Overcurrent detection in steady-state for
circuit-breaker response
- PG de-assertion (pulldown) after reaching
steady-state
- Latch-off after fault
In secondary mode, the following functions are still active:
- Overtemperature protection
- Start-up current limit
- Active current sharing during inrush as well as
steady-state
- Analog current monitor (IMON) in steady
state
- Steady-state overcurrent detection based on IMON.
This is indicated by pulling ITIMER pin low internally, but does not trigger
circuit-breaker action on ITIMER expiry. Rather, the pin relies on the primary
device to start a dedicated ITIMER and then trigger the circuit-breaker action
for the whole chain by pulling SWEN low after the ITIMER expiry. However, the
secondary devices use an internal overcurrent timer as a backup in case the
primary device fails to initiate circuit-breaker action for an extended period
of time. Refer to Single Point Failure
Mitigation section for details.
- Each device still has individual scalable and
fixed fast-trip thresholds to protect itself. The individual short-circuit
protection threshold is set to higher values in secondary mode so that the
primary device can lower it further for the whole system.
- Individual OVP is set to maximum in secondary
device so that the primary can lower individual OVP further for the whole
system.
- FLT assertion based on
individual device fault detection (except circuit-breaker).
- PG de-assertion control during inrush and
assertion control after device reaches steady state. However, after that in
steady state, the secondary device no longer controls the de-assertion of the PG
in case of faults.
- SWEN assertion or de-assertion based on internal
events as well as FET ON and OFF control based on SWEN pin status.
In secondary mode, the device behavior during short-circuit and fast-trip is also altered. More details are available in the Short-Circuit Protection section.