The MAX4271/MAX4272/MAX4273 form a complete family of integrated 3V to 12V hot-swap controllers. They allow safe insertion and removal of circuit cards from a live backplane. Discharged filter capacitor circuit cards provide low impedance with live backplanes. High surge currents from the backplane's line cards can burn up connectors and components, or temporarily cause a system crash on a backplane power reset. This series of hot-swap controllers prevents problems such as presetting by adjusting the current limit when the board is plugged in, making the system stable and safe. After the startup cycle is complete, two on-chip comparators provide DualSpeed​​​/Double Layer™ protection against short circuit, load fault, and overcurrent conditions. In the event of a fault, the load is disconnected. Failback handling (MAX4271) unlocking, auto-retry (MAX4272) or programming (MAX4273) methods. The MAX4271 family includes many comprehensive features that reduce component count and design time. The onboard charge pump provides a low cost gate drive to an external N-channel FET. Integrated features such as start-up current regulation and current glitch protection eliminate external timing resistors and capacitors. Also featured is an open-drain status output indicating a fault condition with an adjustable overcurrent response time. MAX4271 (latching fault protection) and MAX4272 (auto-retry fault protection), 8-pin SO package. The MAX4273 (full-featured) is available in space-saving 16-pin QSOP and 16-pin SO packages. All parts are specified over the extended temperature range and have an absolute maximum rating of 15V to provide additional protection upon removal of the inductive kickback plate.