New automotive-grade LDOs offer high accuracy and ultra-low quiescent current

Nexperia has introduced a new series of AEC-Q100 qualified general-purpose LDO voltage regulators with ultra-low quiescent current. This new series includes tracking LDOs with high tracking accuracy and protected outputs, capable of direct connection to vehicle batteries due to their wide input voltage tolerance. These LDOs are thermally enhanced and can generate a stable voltage source under cold-crank conditions for ripple-sensitive loads in automotive applications, including infotainment systems, ADAS and telematics, and lighting systems. The tracking LDO’s excellent output protection allows their use in body control modules, zone controller units and power train systems, even in scenarios involving off-board loads such as sensors. Beyond automotive applications, these LDOs are ideal for industrial applications, including power tools, e-bikes and battery packs.

In battery-powered automotive applications, low quiescent current (Iq) and shutdown current (ISHUT) are critical for saving energy and prolonging battery lifetime. Always-on systems require ultra-low Iq and stable output cross temperature range. In CAN-wake systems and some systems with sleep state, ultra-low ISHUT is crucial to minimise battery drain even in deep-sleep (disable) mode. Consuming only 5.3μA (typical) quiescent current at light load and 300nA (typical) shutdown current under disabled mode, these LDOs are excellent for powering always-on components like MCUs, CAN or LIN transceivers in standby and CAN-wake systems.

The tracking LDOs further address off-board or off-PCB powered scenarios, such as powering sensors. These applications often require robust output and protection, including safeguards against short-to-ground, short-to-battery, and reverse current conditions. These challenges are addressed by the comprehensive protection features of the tracking LDOs in this series, ensuring reliable operation in demanding environments. Additionally, for ratiometric sensing or measurement applications, the tracking LDOs deliver exceptional output accuracy, tracking supply voltages of ADCs or MCUs within ±5mV.

The general LDOs generate a stable (±2% accuracy) 3V or 5V output from a wide input voltage range (3-40V), permitting them to be connected directly to a car battery without the requirement for additional pre-regulation. Integrated protection features include short-circuit, over-current and thermal shutdown, and these LDOs can operate over a -40C to 125C (ambient) and -40C to 150C (junction) temperature range. The series also features devices with a power good (PG) output voltage status monitor that can be used to support functional safety-related system designs.

NEX90x30-Q100 LDOs provide 300mA of output current capability and are available in a choice of packages, including the thermally enhanced, bottom-side cooled eight-pin HTSSOP package measuring 3mm x 3mm and a DFN6 package measuring only 2mm x 2mm. For lower loading current applications, NEX90x15-Q100 devices with 150mA output current capability are more cost-effective with flexible package options of SOT23-5, SOT223-4 and HWSON6 (DFN-6). The tracking LDO NEX91207-Q100 has a 70mA output current and comes in SOT23-5 and SOT23-5S package.