Infineon TLE4471GAUMA1: A Comprehensive Technical Overview of the 5-V Low-Drop Voltage Regulator
The Infineon TLE4471GAUMA1 is a monolithic integrated low-drop voltage regulator designed to deliver a precise 5-V output, making it a cornerstone component in power management for automotive and industrial applications. Engineered for robustness and reliability, this IC excels in environments demanding high performance under stringent conditions.
Core Architecture and Performance Characteristics
At its heart, the TLE4471 is a low-dropout (LDO) regulator with a very low typical dropout voltage of only 450 mV at a full load current of 150 mA. This high efficiency ensures stable operation even when the input voltage dips close to the output level, which is critical for automotive start-stop scenarios where battery voltage can sag significantly. The device features a high-accuracy output voltage of 5 V ±2%, providing the stable power required by sensitive microcontrollers, sensors, and ASICs.
A key highlight of its design is the exceptionally low quiescent current. In its normal operational mode, the typical ground current is just 40 µA, which can be further reduced to a mere 8 µA in its stand-by mode. This makes it ideally suited for battery-powered applications where minimizing power consumption is paramount.
Integrated Protection and Diagnostic Features
The TLE4471GAUMA1 is built for exceptional reliability and system safety. It incorporates a comprehensive suite of protection features:
Overcurrent Protection: Limits the output current to protect the regulator and the load.
Overtemperature Protection: Shuts down the device if the junction temperature exceeds safe limits, preventing thermal damage.
Short-Circuit Protection: Safely handles output short circuits.
Reverse Polarity Protection: Can withstand input voltages as low as -42 V, a critical requirement in automotive systems where load dump and reverse battery conditions can occur.
Furthermore, it includes diagnostic functions such as an error flag (ERR). This open-collector output actively signals when the output voltage falls out of regulation due to reasons like overtemperature or a dropout condition, providing crucial feedback to a host microcontroller.
Application Versatility
Housed in a PG-TO252-5-11 (DPAK) package, the TLE4471GAUMA1 offers good thermal performance for its power class. Its wide input voltage range (up to 45 V) and robust design make it a preferred choice for:
Body control modules and automotive instrument clusters
Engine control units (ECUs) and powertrain systems
Industrial control systems
Power supplies for permanent magnet motors
It can also be used as a follow-up regulator after a pre-supply stage (e.g., a switching regulator) to provide a clean, low-noise final output voltage.
The Infineon TLE4471GAUMA1 stands out as a highly reliable, feature-rich 5-V LDO regulator. Its combination of low dropout voltage, ultra-low quiescent current, extensive protection mechanisms, and diagnostic capabilities solidifies its position as an optimal solution for powering electronic control units in the demanding environments of automotive and industrial electronics.
Keywords: Low-Dropout Regulator (LDO), Automotive Grade, Quiescent Current, Overcurrent Protection, Error Flag (ERR)
