Texas Instruments TPS7A1408PDRVR

Overview

TPS7A1408PDRVR from Texas Instruments is a 1-A ultra-low-dropout linear regulator optimized for battery-powered systems requiring sub-1-V input and precise low-voltage outputs. It delivers 0.8 V output at ±1% accuracy over –40°C to +125°C, supports 0.7–2.2 V input with only 70 mV dropout at 1 A (YBK), and uses separate BIAS rail (2.2–5.5 V) for internal circuitry-enabling high efficiency in LILO (low-input, low-output) applications such as mobile SoC core rails.

For engineers reviewing the TPS7A1408PDRVR datasheet, TPS7A1408PDRVR pinout, TPS7A1408PDRVR application, or TPS7A1408PDRVR equivalent, key selection criteria include its 70-mV dropout at 1 A, active output discharge, 1% total output accuracy, 80-dB PSRR at 1 kHz, and compatibility with 0.71-mm × 1.16-mm WCSP or 2-mm × 2-mm WSON packages-critical for space-constrained portable electronics.

Technical Context

The TPS7A1408PDRVR implements a dual-rail architecture: the IN pin carries the main power path (as low as 0.7 V), while the BIAS pin supplies 2.2–5.5 V to power control circuitry-including bandgap reference and error amplifier-decoupling regulation stability from ultra-low VIN. Its foldback current limit activates at ~0.6 × VOUT(nom), transitioning from brick-wall (1.035–2.45 A) to short-circuit (600 mA) behavior under fault conditions.

Global UVLO requires both VIN ≥ 603 mV (rising) and VBIAS ≥ 1.42 V (rising) before enabling; EN is active-high with VIH = 0.6 V and VIL = 0.25 V. The device features SENSE pin for remote feedback, thermal shutdown at 165°C with 25°C hysteresis, and active pulldown (36 Ω) for controlled output discharge during disable.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TPS7A1408PDRVR is packaged in a 6-pin WSON (DRV) with 2 mm × 2 mm footprint and exposed thermal pad electrically tied to GND. The thermal pad must be soldered to PCB ground plane for optimal thermal performance (RθJB = 32.7°C/W).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar ultra-low-dropout LDO applications.

Compared with TPS7A1408PDRVR, TPS7A1601DGNR trades LILO flexibility for simpler single-supply operation, while NCP114AMX18T2G sacrifices current capability and advanced features for ultra-compact footprint-making TPS7A1408PDRVR the sole option meeting 1-A, 0.8-V, 0.7-V-IN, and SENSE requirements simultaneously.

Availability

TPS7A1408PDRVR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for mobile SoC power, wearable sensor nodes, SSD controller rails, and ultra-low-voltage FPGA I/O requiring stable component supply across high-mix, low-volume production runs.

Supply support for TPS7A1408PDRVR 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 ICs, with decades of LDO design expertise for portable and industrial applications.

The TPS7A14 product line targets ultra-low-input, ultra-low-output battery-powered systems-designed specifically to replace inefficient cascaded regulation stages with a single high-efficiency LILO LDO supporting sub-1-V inputs and precise low-voltage rails.

FAQ

What is the minimum input voltage required for TPS7A1408PDRVR to regulate 0.8 V output?

The TPS7A1408PDRVR requires VIN ≥ VOUT + 100 mV per datasheet specification, meaning minimum 0.9 V on the IN pin for stable 0.8-V regulation. However, it can operate down to 0.7 V on IN when paired with sufficient BIAS voltage (≥2.2 V or VOUT + 1.4 V), leveraging its dual-rail architecture to maintain regulation below conventional LDO limits. This LILO capability is confirmed in Section 6.3 Recommended Operating Conditions.

Does TPS7A1408PDRVR support remote sensing, and how is it implemented?

Yes, TPS7A1408PDRVR supports remote sensing via the dedicated SENSE pin (Pin 2 in DRV package). When connected directly to the load instead of the OUT pin, SENSE compensates for voltage drop across PCB traces-ensuring accurate 0.8-V regulation at the point-of-load. The datasheet specifies this configuration eliminates errors from trace resistance, and Table 5-2 confirms SENSE as a feedback input with explicit connection guidance.

What is the purpose of the BIAS pin on TPS7A1408PDRVR, and what voltage range must it be supplied with?

The BIAS pin powers the internal reference, error amplifier, and control circuitry independently from the main IN rail-enabling stable regulation even when IN is as low as 0.7 V. It must be supplied with 2.2 V to 5.5 V, or greater than VOUT + 1.4 V (i.e., ≥2.2 V for 0.8-V output). Section 6.3 and Figure 7-1 confirm BIAS is mandatory for LILO operation and participates in global UVLO alongside VIN.

How does the active discharge function work on TPS7A1408PDRVR, and what is its pull-down resistance?

The TPS7A1408PDRVR employs an internal MOSFET-based active discharge that connects a 36-Ω resistor between OUT and GND when disabled (EN low), during UVLO, or in thermal shutdown. This ensures rapid, controlled discharge of output capacitance-preventing floating states or unintended wake-up. The value is explicitly listed as RPULLDOWN = 36 Ω in Section 6.5 Electrical Characteristics and applies only to the P-version (which includes TPS7A1408PDRVR).

What thermal metrics apply to TPS7A1408PDRVR in the DRV (WSON) package, and how should the thermal pad be handled?

In the DRV package, TPS7A1408PDRVR has RθJB = 32.7°C/W (junction-to-board) and RθJC(bot) = 16.8°C/W (junction-to-case bottom). The exposed thermal pad is electrically connected to GND and must be soldered to a PCB ground plane with adequate copper area to achieve these ratings. Figure 5-2 and Section 6.4 Thermal Information mandate this connection for thermal performance and electrical safety.