LDOs shrink to chip scale packages

A Texas Instruments (April 2001-March 2006) product story

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Jun 23, 2005

A new series of 200mA low-dropout linear regulators in 1.5 x 1mm chip scale packages are 80% smaller than today's SOT-23 devices.

Texas Instruments has developed a series of 200mA low-dropout linear regulators (LDOs) in 1.5 x 1mm chip scale packages that are 80% smaller than today's SOT-23 devices.

The tiny, low-noise LDOs meet the stringent power management requirements of 3G handsets that feature noise-sensitive Bluetooth, RF and high-resolution camera circuitry, including advanced smart camera phones based on TI's OMAP processors.

TI's new TPS799xx LDOs deliver 29.6uV (RMS) of output noise and provide a power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of 66dB at 1kHz to minimise noise that occurs when power is regulated to a handset's most noise-sensitive circuits.

The devices also offer a fast startup time of 45us and excellent transient response while typically consuming only 40uA of supply current.

The TPS799xx family is stable with a small, 2.2uF ceramic capacitor and can yield dropout voltages as low as 100mV at 200mA over the entire range of input voltages, allowing it to support demanding power requirements of 3G handsets and WLAN cards.

In addition, the highly accurate devices use a precision voltage reference and feedback loop to achieve overall accuracy of 2% over load, line and temperature variations.

Responding to growing customer demand for LDOs in chip scale packaging, TI uses its advanced analogue manufacturing process technology to offer devices in chip scale that are Pb-free and green, lightweight and extremely small.

In addition to the TPS799xx LDOs, TI has released its popular TPS793xx family of 200mA RF LDOs in chip scale, and plans a July release of the TPS711xx family of dual 250mA RF LDOs.

Also available in chip scale is the industry's smallest DC/DC convertor for 500mA, the TPS62300.

The TPS799xx family of LDOs is available today in volume from TI and its authorised distributors.

The devices come in a highly reliable, five-pin wafer chip scale (1.5 x 1mm) package and a five-pin TSOT23 package.

All TPS799xx devices are priced at $0.35 each in quantities of 1000 units.

Evaluation modules, design application notes and an easy-to-use online power management selection tool are available.