Nexperia today introduced a new series of AEC-Q100-compliant, ultra-low quiescent current general-purpose low dropout (LDO) regulators. The new series also includes high-precision LDOs with output following, integrated output protection, and a wide input voltage range so that they can be directly connected to automotive batteries. These LDOs are thermally optimized to provide a stable voltage source for ripple-sensitive loads in automotive applications such as infotainment systems, ADAS, telematics and lighting systems, even under cold start conditions. The LDOs with output-following function have excellent output protection and can excel in body control modules, area control units, and powertrains for scenarios involving out-of-vehicle loads such as sensors. In addition to automotive applications, these LDOs are also suitable for industrial applications, including power tools, electric bicycles, and battery packs.
In battery-powered automotive applications, low quiescent current (Iq) and shutdown current (ISHUT) are critical for energy savings and extended battery life. Normally-open systems require that Iq be maintained at ultra-low levels and that the output be stabilized over the entire temperature range. CAN wake-up systems and certain systems with sleep states, on the other hand, require ultra-low ISHUT to minimize power consumption in deep sleep (shutdown) mode. With outstanding power efficiency performance, the series of LDOs have quiescent currents as low as 5.3 μA (typical) at light loads and shutdown currents as low as 300 nA (typical) in shutdown mode, making them ideal for powering normally-open components, such as microcontrollers (MCUs), Controller Area Networks (CAN), or Local Internet Network (LIN) transceivers, in standby and Wake-on-CAN systems.
LDOs with output following further fulfill the needs of off-PCB power supply scenarios such as sensor powering. Such applications often require highly reliable output protection against potential risks such as short circuits to ground, short circuits to battery and reverse current. To address these challenges, the follow-on LDOs in this series integrate comprehensive protection mechanisms to ensure stable operation in harsh environments. In addition, these LDOs provide excellent output accuracy in proportional sensing or measurement applications, with an output error of only ±5 mV when used to follow the supply voltage of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or MCU.
The general-purpose LDOs provide stable 3.3 V or 5 V outputs (with ±2% accuracy) over a wide input voltage range of 3-40 V, and can be directly connected to automotive batteries without the need for additional pre-regulator circuitry. The LDOs in this series incorporate protection functions such as short-circuit protection, over-current protection, and thermal shutdown, and can operate stably over a range of -40°C to 125°C (ambient temperature) or -40°C to 150°C (junction temperature). In addition, some of the devices in this series are equipped with Power Good (PG) output voltage status monitoring, which can be used to support functional safety-related system designs.
The NEX90x30-Q100 LDOs have a 300 mA output current capability and are available in a variety of package options, including thermally optimized, bottom-sinking 8-pin HTSSOP packages (3 mm × 3 mm) and DFN6 packages (2 mm × 2 mm). For lower load current applications, the NEX90x15-Q100 devices offer 150 mA output current for better price/performance and flexible package options such as SOT23-5, SOT223-4, and HWSON6 (DFN-6). Following the LDO NEX91207-Q100 has 70 mA output current in SOT23-5 and SOT23-5S packages.
