Texas Instruments TPS60212DGS

Overview

TPS60212DGS from Texas Instruments is a regulated 3.3-V step-up charge pump IC designed for ultra-low-power battery-powered systems. It accepts 1.6–3.6-V input (e.g., two alkaline/NiMH cells or one Li-MnO₂ coin cell), delivers up to 50 mA continuous output current at 3.3 V ±4%, achieves <5-mV_PP output ripple via push-pull topology, and operates with only four external ceramic capacitors-no inductors required. It is used in glucose meters, MSP430-based portable instruments, and backup-battery boost converters.

For engineers reviewing the TPS60212DGS datasheet, TPS60212DGS pinout, TPS60212DGS application, or TPS60212DGS equivalent, this page provides verified functional identity, validated 10-pin MSOP package mapping, confirmed low-battery detector operation (LBI/LBO), exact quiescent current (2 µA snooze / 35–70 µA normal), and real-world load/line regulation performance across 1.6–3.6 V input and 0–50 mA output ranges.

Technical Context

The TPS60212DGS implements a dual single-ended charge-pump architecture operating in 180° push-pull phase to ensure continuous charge transfer and minimize output voltage ripple. Its control loop uses linskip mode-seamlessly transitioning between constant-frequency linear-regulation (>7 mA load) and pulse-skip mode (<7 mA)-to optimize efficiency and noise.

It integrates a low-battery detector (LBI threshold = 1.18 V ±5%, open-drain LBO output), startup precharge circuitry (connects IN to OUT until 0.8×V_IN), and SNOOZE pin-programmable operation: low = 2 µA snooze mode (3.3 V ±6%, 2 mA max load), high = internal oscillator (200–400 kHz), or clocked = external sync (400–800 kHz).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TPS60212DGS is housed in a 10-pin MSOP (DGS) package, 3.0 mm × 3.0 mm × 1.0 mm, with exposed thermal pad (not electrically connected). Pin numbering follows standard MSOP convention: pin 1 at top-left corner, counterclockwise.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar regulated charge-pump applications.

Compared with TPS60210DGS, the TPS60212DGS trades 50% peak current capacity for optimized light-load efficiency and lower BOM cost in space-constrained medical and sensor applications; compared with TPS60212DGSR, it offers identical performance in tube packaging for flexibility in small-batch development.

Availability

TPS60212DGS is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for glucose meters, MSP430-based portable instrumentation, and backup-battery boost converters requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and guaranteed traceable sourcing.

Supply support for TPS60212DGS includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog, embedded processing, and power management technologies, with decades of expertise in battery-efficient power conversion.

The TPS6021x family was designed specifically for space-critical, ultra-low-power portable medical, industrial, and consumer devices requiring regulated 3.3-V output from declining single- or dual-cell battery sources-without inductors.

FAQ

What is the maximum continuous output current of the TPS60212DGS?

The TPS60212DGS delivers a guaranteed minimum of 50 mA continuous output current when the input voltage is ≥2 V. Absolute maximum rating is 75 mA. Performance is validated across the full 1.6–3.6 V input range and −40°C to 85°C junction temperature, with output regulation maintained at 3.3 V ±4% under these conditions. The TPS60212DGS is rated for lower current than the TPS60210DGS (100 mA) to optimize efficiency and thermal behavior in compact portable designs.

Does the TPS60212DGS require an inductor?

No, the TPS60212DGS is a capacitor-based charge-pump DC/DC converter and requires no inductor. It uses only four external ceramic capacitors: two 1-µF (or 0.47-µF) flying capacitors (C1/C2), one 2.2-µF input capacitor (C_IN), and one 2.2-µF output capacitor (C_OUT). This eliminates magnetic EMI, reduces board area, and simplifies layout-making the TPS60212DGS ideal for space-constrained battery-powered applications like glucose meters and portable sensors.

How does the low-battery detector work on the TPS60212DGS?

The TPS60212DGS integrates a precision low-battery comparator with LBI input and open-drain LBO output. The LBI pin trips at 1.18 V ±5%-a fixed internal reference-when the voltage from an external resistive divider drops below threshold. LBO pulls low to signal low battery; it requires an external pullup resistor (100 kΩ–1 MΩ) to OUT or another logic rail ≤3.6 V. The detector is automatically disabled when SNOOZE is driven low, eliminating parasitic current drain during ultra-low-power sleep.

What are the operating modes controlled by the SNOOZE pin on the TPS60212DGS?

The SNOOZE pin on the TPS60212DGS selects three distinct operating modes: (1) SNOOZE = low → 2 µA ultralow-power mode (3.3 V ±6%, 2 mA max load); (2) SNOOZE = high → normal operation using internal 200–400 kHz oscillator; (3) SNOOZE = AC signal (400–800 kHz) → external synchronization to minimize switching harmonics. Mode selection is immediate and deterministic-no configuration registers or I²C interface required.

Can the TPS60212DGS start up from a 1.6-V input?

Yes, the TPS60212DGS guarantees start-up from as low as 1.6 V input. During start-up, the device precharges the output capacitor by connecting IN directly to OUT until the output reaches 0.8×V_IN, then activates the charge-pump stages to boost to 3.3 V. This ensures reliable turn-on even with deeply discharged batteries-critical for medical devices like glucose meters where battery voltage may sag to 1.6 V under load before exhaustion.