Applications Information
The limiting characteristic for the maximum output
load current safe operating area is essentially
package power dissipation and the internal preset
thermal limit of the device. In order to obtain high
operating currents, careful device layout and circuit
operating conditions need to be taken into account.
The following discussions will assume the LDO regulator is mounted on a printed circuit board utilizing
the minimum recommended footprint as stated in
the layout considerations section of the document.
At any given ambient temperature (TA) the maximum package power dissipation can be determined by the following equation:
P
D(MAX)
= [T
J(MAX)
- T
A
] / Θ
JA
Constants for the AAT3216 are T
J(MAX)
, the maxi-
mum junction temperature for the device which is
125°C and Θ
JA
= 190°C/W, the package thermal
resistance. Typically, maximum conditions are calculated at the maximum operating temperature
where TA= 85°C, under normal ambient conditions
TA= 25°C. Given TA= 85°, the maximum package
power dissipation is 211mW. At TA= 25°C°, the
maximum package power dissipation is 526mW.
The maximum continuous output current for the
AAT3216 is a function of the package power dissipation and the input to output voltage drop across
the LDO regulator. Refer to the following simple
equation:
I
OUT(MAX)
< P
D(MAX)
/ (VIN- V
OUT
)
For example, if VIN= 5V, V
OUT
= 3V and TA= 25°,
I
OUT(MAX)
< 264mA. If the output load current were to
exceed 264mA or if the ambient temperature were to
increase, the internal die temperature will increase.
If the condition remained constant, the LDO regulator thermal protection circuit will activate.
To figure what the maximum input voltage would be
for a given load current refer to the following equation. This calculation accounts for the total power
dissipation of the LDO Regulator, including that
caused by ground current.
P
D(MAX)
= (VIN- V
OUT)IOUT
+ (VINx I
GND
)
This formula can be solved for V
IN
to determine the
maximum input voltage.
V
IN(MAX)
= (P
D(MAX)
+ (V
OUT
x I
OUT
)) / (I
OUT
+ I
GND
)
The following is an example for an AAT3216 set for
a 2.5 volt output:
From the discussion above, P
D(MAX)
was deter-
mined to equal 526mW at TA= 25°C.
V
OUT
= 2.5 volts
I
OUT
= 150mA
I
GND
= 150µA
V
IN(MAX)
=(526mW+(2.5Vx150mA))/(150mA +150µA)
V
IN(MAX)
= 6.00V
Thus, the AAT3216 can sustain a constant 2.5V
output at a 150mA load current as long as V
IN
is ≤
6.00V at an ambient temperature of 25°C. 6.0V is
the absolute maximum voltage where an AAT3216
would never be operated, thus at 25°C, the device
would not have any thermal concerns or operational V
IN(MAX)
limits.
This situation can be different at 85°C. The following is an example for an AAT3216 set for a 2.5 volt
output at 85°C:
From the discussion above, P
D(MAX)
was deter-
mined to equal 211mW at TA= 85°C.
V
OUT
= 2.5 volts
I
OUT
= 150mA
I
GND
= 150uA
V
IN(MAX)
=(211mW+(2.5Vx150mA))/(150mA +150uA)
V
IN(MAX)
= 3.90V
Higher input to output voltage differentials can be
obtained with the AAT3216, while maintaining
device functions within the thermal safe operating
area. To accomplish this, the device thermal
resistance must be reduced by increasing the heat
sink area or by operating the LDO regulator in a
duty cycled mode.
For example, an application requires VIN= 4.2V
while V
OUT
= 2.5V at a 150mA load and TA= 85°C.
VINis greater than 3.90V, which is the maximum
safe continuous input level for V
OUT
= 2.5V at
150mA for TA= 85°C. To maintain this high input
voltage and output current level, the LDO regulator
AAT3216
150mA MicroPower™ LDO with PowerOK
3216.2004.01.0.94 11