Application Hints

HEATSINK REQUIREMENTS

A heatsink may be required with the LP2956 depending on

the maximum power dissipation and maximum ambient tem-

perature of the application. Under all expected operating

conditions, the junction temperature must be within the

range specified under Absolute Maximum Ratings.

To determine if a heatsink is required, the maximum power

dissipated by the regulator, P(max), must be calculated. It is

important to remember that if the regulator is powered from

a transformer connected to the AC line, the maximum

specified AC input voltage must be used (since this pro-

duces the maximum DC input voltage to the regulator).

Fig-

ure 1 shows the voltages and currents which are present in

the circuit. The formula for calculating the power dissipated

in the regulator is also shown in

Figure 1 (the currents and

power due to external resistive dividers are not included, and

are typically negligible).

The next parameter which must be calculated is the maxi-

mum allowable temperature rise, T

by using the formula:

T

where:

T

perature

T

Using the calculated values for T

quired value for junction-to-ambient thermal resistance,

θ

(J-A)

, can now be found:

θ

The heatsink for the LP2956 is made using the PC board

copper. The heat is conducted from the die, through the lead

frame (inside the part), and out the pins which are soldered

to the PC board. The pins used for heat conduction are

shown in

Table 1.

TABLE 1.

Part

Package

Pins

LP2956IN

16-Pin Plastic DIP

4, 5, 12, 13

LP2956AIN

16-Pin Plastic DIP

4, 5, 12, 13

LP2956IM

16-Pin Surface Mt.

1, 8, 9, 16

LP2956AIM

16-Pin Surface Mt.

1, 8, 9, 16

Figure 2 shows copper patterns which may be used to dissi-

pate heat from the LP2956:

Table 2 shows some typical values of junction-to-ambient

thermal resistance (

θ

per).

TABLE 2.

Package

L (In.)

H (In.)

θ

16-Pin

Plastic

1

0.5

70

DIP

2

1

60

3

1.5

58

4

0.19

66

6

0.19

66

16-Pin

1

0.5

83

Surface

2

1

70

Mount

3

1.5

67

6

0.19

69

4

0.19

71

2

0.19

73

EXTERNAL CAPACITORS

A 2.2 µF (or greater) capacitor is required between the main

output pin and ground to assure stability. The auxiliary output

requires 10 µF to ground. Without these capacitors, the part

may oscillate. Most types of tantalum or aluminum electrolyt-

ics will work here. Film types will work, but are more expen-

sive. Many aluminum electrolytics contain electrolytes which

freeze at −30˚C, which requires the use of solid tantalums

below −25˚C. The important characteristic of the capacitors

is an ESR of 5

Ω (or less) on the main regulator output and an

ESR of 1

Ω (or less) on the auxiliary regulator output (the

DS011339-9

FIGURE 1. Current/Voltage Diagram

DS011339-10

*For best results, use L = 2H

FIGURE 2. Copper Heatsink Patterns

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