Infineon TLE4295GV26 Low-Dropout Voltage Regulator Technical Overview and Application Note
The Infineon TLE4295GV26 is a monolithic integrated low-dropout voltage regulator designed to deliver a fixed 2.6V output voltage with a maximum output current of 250 mA. Engineered for robust performance in automotive and industrial environments, it combines high accuracy, low quiescent current, and comprehensive protection features, making it an ideal power management solution for powering microcontrollers, sensors, and other low-voltage ICs.
Technical Overview
The core of the TLE4295GV26 is a PNP pass transistor, which enables its low-dropout performance. The device requires only a small voltage difference between the input supply (VI) and the output (VQ) to maintain regulation. The typical dropout voltage is a mere 200 mV at a load of 100 mA, significantly enhancing efficiency, especially in applications with fluctuating battery voltages, such as those found in automotive systems.
Key electrical characteristics include:
High Output Accuracy: The output voltage is guaranteed to within ±2% under specified operating conditions.
Very Low Quiescent Current: The device features a typical quiescent current of only 35 µA, which is crucial for reducing power consumption in always-on applications.
Wide Input Voltage Range: It can operate with an input voltage from 3 V up to 42 V, with a transient survival voltage of up to 45 V. This makes it exceptionally suited for the harsh electrical environments of 12V and 24V vehicle systems.
Integrated Protections: The regulator is fortified with multiple built-in protection mechanisms:
Overcurrent Protection: Limits the output current to protect the device and the load.
Overtemperature Protection: Shuts down the regulator if the junction temperature exceeds a safe threshold.
Reverse Polarity Protection: Safeguards the IC against accidental negative voltage on the input pin.
Short-Circuit Protection: Withstands a continuous short-circuit at the output.
The device is available in a PG-SOT223-4 package, offering a good thermal performance for its power class and a compact footprint on the PCB.
Application Note
The TLE4295GV26 is straightforward to implement. A basic application circuit requires only two external capacitors for stability and buffering.
Typical Application Circuit:
1. Input Capacitor (CI): A ceramic capacitor (typically 100 nF) should be placed as close as possible to the input pin (VI) and ground. This capacitor improves stability and handles high-frequency input transients.
2. Output Capacitor (CQ): A low-ESR ceramic output capacitor (minimum 1 µF, typically 2.2 µF) is required for loop stability and to ensure good transient response. It must also be placed close to the regulator.
Key Design Considerations:
Thermal Management: Although the package has good thermal properties, the maximum power dissipation (PD = (VI - VQ) IQ) must be calculated to ensure the junction temperature does not exceed 150 °C. Adequate copper area on the PCB connected to the tab of the SOT223 package is essential for heat dissipation.
Load Transients: The device is designed to handle rapid changes in load current. The specified output capacitor ensures stability and performance during these transients.
Automotive Use: Its qualification for automotive applications makes it perfect for body control modules, instrument clusters, and infotainment systems, where it can directly regulate battery voltage to power a low-voltage microprocessor core.
ICGOOODFIND: The Infineon TLE4295GV26 stands out as an exceptionally robust and efficient low-dropout regulator tailored for demanding automotive and industrial settings. Its combination of very low dropout voltage, high accuracy, and extensive protection suite provides designers with a highly reliable, simple-to-use component for creating stable secondary voltage rails from a noisy and variable primary supply.
Keywords: Low-Dropout Regulator, Automotive Grade, Overcurrent Protection, Quiescent Current, Voltage Regulation.
