Achieve dependable power source selection and management with LTC4417 and PIC18F57Q43

Power MUX 3 Click is based on the LTC4417, a prioritized PowerPath™ controller from Analog Devices that autonomously selects and connects one of up to three valid power sources to a common output (VO terminal) based on a predefined priority. The board represents a 12V system setup using a swappable and backup battery configuration, where V1 is typically connected to a 12V wall adapter, V2 to a NiCd battery supply, and V3 to a Li-Ion battery supply. The priority of the sources is hardwired, with V1 being the highest and V3 the lowest. The Power MUX 3 Click is designed to manage multiple power sources in systems requiring high availability and controlled power switching, such as industrial handheld instruments, battery backup systems, and computer peripherals. A power source is considered valid if its voltage remains continuously within the undervoltage (UV) and overvoltage (OV) limits for at least 256 milliseconds. As soon as the

currently connected highest-priority valid input falls outside of this window, the LTC4417 automatically disconnects it and connects the next highest-priority input that meets the UV/OV criteria. This ensures uninterrupted and reliable power delivery without manual intervention. Power MUX 3 Click uses only two control pins from the mikroBUS™ socket: EN and SHD. The EN (Enable) pin allows the user to swiftly connect or disconnect channels without resetting the UV/OV validation timers, while the SHD (Shutdown) pin forces the LTC4417 into a low-power mode and resets all 256ms timers for each channel, effectively restarting the validation process. The board also supports cascading of two or more Power MUX 3 Clicks via the CAS pin, enabling the creation of advanced power path management topologies with more than three inputs. The LTC4417 integrates fast non-overlap switching logic to prevent both reverse conduction and cross conduction during transitions, thereby

minimizing output droop and ensuring safe switching. It features a 6V gate clamp to protect external MOSFETs (such as the onboard IRF7324 MOSFETs), and a controlled output ramp function that suppresses inrush currents at power-up. Additionally, each input has an open-drain VALID LED indicator which lights up red to signify that the respective input has been continuously valid for at least 256ms, providing immediate visual feedback on power source health and readiness. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit is a cutting-edge hardware platform designed to evaluate microcontrollers within the PIC18-Q43 family. Central to its design is the inclusion of the powerful PIC18F57Q43 microcontroller (MCU), offering advanced functionalities and robust performance. Key features of this evaluation kit include a yellow user LED and a responsive

mechanical user switch, providing seamless interaction and testing. The provision for a 32.768kHz crystal footprint ensures precision timing capabilities. With an onboard debugger boasting a green power and status LED, programming and debugging become intuitive and efficient. Further enhancing its utility is the Virtual serial port (CDC) and a debug GPIO channel (DGI

GPIO), offering extensive connectivity options. Powered via USB, this kit boasts an adjustable target voltage feature facilitated by the MIC5353 LDO regulator, ensuring stable operation with an output voltage ranging from 1.8V to 5.1V, with a maximum output current of 500mA, subject to ambient temperature and voltage constraints.