Texas Instruments' Latest Linear Regulator Reduces Standby Power Consumption by 50%
(Product News, 19 Mar 2008)
Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) has launched its TPS780xx low-dropout linear regulator (LDO) family that is rated at 150mA and features dual-level voltage output for the MSP430 microcontroller-based, battery-powered devices. Consuming the lowest quiescent current in the industry at 0.5mA, the LDO's voltage select (VSET) pin gives designers the ability to switch between two voltage levels to customize and cut power consumption in half during operation.
TI's new ultra-low power TPS780xx LDOs with selectable dual-level output voltages allow designers to dynamically shift to a lower voltage level in a battery-powered design when the microprocessor is in sleep mode. The two voltage levels are preset at the factory by applying a unique architecture using EPROM, which provides multiple output voltage options.
The LDO requires no external parts to implement the device's dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) feature for an MSP430 or other microcontroller design. The six-pin, 2x2mm TPS780xx is stable with any output capacitor greater than 1µF. The device is targeted at portable applications, such as mobile handsets, digital still cameras and MSP430 microcontroller-based applications.