February 1999 TOKO, Inc. Page 3
ADVANCED INFORMATION
DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION OF TECHNICAL TERMS
OUTPUT VOLTAGE (VOUT)
The output voltage is specified with VIN = (VOUT(TYP) + 1 V)
and IOUT = 1 mA.
DROPOUT VOLTAGE (VDROP)
The dropout voltage is the difference between the input
voltage and the output voltage at which point the regulator
starts to fall out of regulation. Below this value, the output
voltage will fall as the input voltage is reduced. It is
dependent upon the load current and the junction
temperature.
OUTPUT CURRENT (IOUT)
Normal operating output current. This is limited by package
power dissipation.
LINE REGULATION (Line Reg)
Line regulation is the ability of the regulator to maintain a
constant output voltage as the input voltage changes. The
line regulation is specified as the input voltage is changed
from VIN = VOUT + 0.5 V to VIN = 8 V.
LOAD REGULATION (Load Reg)
Load regulation is the ability of the regulator to maintain a
constant output voltage as the load current changes. It is
a pulsed measurement to minimize temperature effects
with the input voltage set to VIN = VOUT +1 V. The load
regulation is specified under output current step conditions
of 1 mA to 50 mA.
QUIESCENT CURRENT (IQ)
The quiescent current is the current which flows through
the ground terminal under no load conditions (IOUT = 0 mA).
STANDBY CURRENT (ISTBY)
Standby current is the current which flows into the regulator
when the output is turned off by the control function
(VCONT = 0 V). It is measured with VIN = 8 V.
SENSOR CIRCUITS
Overcurrent Sensor
The overcurrent sensor protects the device if the output is
shorted to ground.
PACKAGE POWER DISSIPATION (PD)
This is the power dissipation level at which the thermal
sensor is activated. The IC contains an internal thermal
sensor which monitors the junction temperature. When the
junction temperature exceeds the monitor threshold of
150 °C, the IC is shut down. The junction temperature
rises as the difference between the input power (VIN x IIN)
and the output power (VOUT x IOUT) increases. The rate of
temperature rise is greatly affected by the mounting pad
configuration on the PCB, the board material, and the
ambient temperature. When the IC mounting has good
thermal conductivity, the junction temperature will be low
even if the power dissipation is great. When mounted on
the recommended mounting pad, the power dissipation of
the SOT-23-5 is increased to 500 mW. For operation at
ambient temperatures over 25 °C, the power dissipation of
the SOT-23-5 device should be derated at 4.0 mW/ °C. To
determine the power dissipation for shutdown when
mounted, attach the device on the actual PCB and
deliberately increase the output current (or raise the input
voltage) until the thermal protection circuit is activated.
Calculate the power dissipation of the device by subtracting
the output power from the input power. These
measurements should allow for the ambient temperature
of the PCB. The value obtained from PD /(150 °C - TA) is the
derating factor. The PCB mounting pad should provide
maximum thermal conductivity in order to maintain low
device temperatures. As a general rule, the lower the
temperature, the better the reliability of the device. The
thermal resistance when mounted is expressed as follows:
Tj = 0jA x PD + TA
For Toko ICs, the internal limit for junction temperature is
150 °C. If the ambient temperature (TA) is 25 °C, then:
150 °C = 0jA x PD + 25 °C
0jA = 125 °C / PD