A step-down switching voltage regulator is a DC-to-DC converter, manufactured by STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, and Pololu. So, these ICs generate a low output voltage compared to their input voltage so used in applications like automotive systems & portable devices wherever low voltage levels are required. These are very efficient frequently over 90%, simple to use, and have inbuilt protection from overvoltage, over-temperature & over-current. The switching frequency of this IC can be adjusted to maintain higher efficiency at low loads. Thus, this article provides an overview of LM2595 IC, pinout, specifications, and its applications.
What is LM2595 IC?
The LM2595 is a monolithic step-down switching regulator IC that works like a high-efficiency regulator to drive a 1.0 Amps load with outstanding load and line regulation. So this IC is available in the TO-263 surface-mount or TO-220 package and its changeable output version is compensated internally to reduce the number of exterior components to shorten the design of the power supply.
LM2595 converter IC’s efficiency is much higher as compared to three−terminal linear regulators, particularly with high input voltages. This regulator IC operates at a 150 kHz switching frequency so it allows tiny-sized filter components. So this IC has a tolerance of 4% on output voltage in particular input voltages, o/p load conditions & 15% on the oscillator frequency.
Thus this IC can also have an external shutdown feature with a 50 Amps standby current. So, self protection feature of this IC has a switch cycle−by−cycle current limit for the output switch & thermal shutdown for whole protection in fault conditions. Thus the LM2595 IC is used in different applications like; Positive-to-negative converters, On-card switching regulators, and Efficient pre-regulators mainly for linear regulators.
LM2595 IC Working
The LM2595 IC works as a step-down switching regulator to drive a 1A load with outstanding line & load regulation by providing all the active functions. This IC provides a fixed o/p voltage like; 3.3 Volts, 5 Volts, or 12 Volts (or) an adjustable output. So a heat sink is generally not necessary for output voltages <12V and < 50°C ambient temperatures. A standard series of inductors are obtainable from different manufacturers optimized to utilize with the LM2595 series ICs, thus this main feature simplifies greatly the switch-mode power supplies design.
LM2595 IC Pin Configuration:
The pin configuration of LM2595 IC is shown below. So this regulator IC includes five pins which are discussed below.
LM2595 IC Pin Configuration
- Pin-1 (OUT): It is an output pin of an IC.
- Pin-2 (Vin): It is an input voltage pin that supplies the IC.
- Pin-3 (GND): It is the Ground pin of the chip.
- Pin- 4 (FB): It is a feedback pin of the regulator IC.
- Pin-5 (ON/OFF): It is a complement ON/OFF pin of the chip.
Features and Specifications:
The features and specifications of LM2595 IC include the following.
- LM2595 is a monolithic step-down switching regulator IC.
- This IC includes five pins.
- This IC is available in TO-263 and TO-220 packages.
- Its output voltage is available in 3.3 V, 5 V & 12 V.
- Its adjustable version is available from 1.2 V to 37 V.
- Input voltage is up to 40 Volts.
- The output load current is 1A.
- Its oscillator frequency is 150 kHz
- Its typical standby current is 85 µA.
- Its Tolerance on output voltage is ±4% & on oscillator frequency is ±15%.
- This IC has thermal and external shutdown features.
- It has two stage frequencies decreasing the current limit.
- This IC uses readily available standard inductors.
Equivalents & Alternatives
Equivalent LM2595 ICs are; LM1117, LM2596, ACT4523, CS51411, LM723, LM7912, LM2576, BD9876, etc. Thus its alternative LM2595 ICs are; LM2904, LM158, LM2902, LM258, LM311, LM741, etc.
5VDC to 12VDC Converter Circuit with LM2595 IC
Generally, a 12V power supply is required for many electronic devices like analog circuits, RS232 power supplies, and many more. So this power supply needs to be produced from a 5V system bus. Here, the 5VDC to 12VDC converter with LM2595 ICcircuit is designed which provides excellent regulation at a high efficiency.
The 5VDC to 12VDC converter with LM2595 IC is shown below. This circuit is designed with different electronic components. So, the main function of this circuit is to change a single 5VDC DC voltage to a dual 12VDC voltage using LM2595 IC. The required components to make this circuit mainly include LM2595 IC, 1N5818 diodes, CTX250 inductor,1N4001 diode, and capacitors 82uF 25V & 39uF 25V. Connect this circuit as per the diagram shown below.
5VDC to 12VDC Converter Circuit with LM2595 IC
Working
The above circuit uses an LM2595 IC switching regulator which uses 5V input and generates the dual 12V DC voltage (+12V and – 12VDC) outputs. So this IC in this circuit is connected as an inverting buck-boost converter to get the negative output. To generate positive output, one extra diode and capacitor are necessary. Thus, the negative output is generated with an extra winding within the CTX250 self-inductor.
Advantages & Disadvantages
The advantages of LM2595 IC include the following.
- LM2595 ICs provide all the active functions mainly for a step-down switching regulator.
- Its adjustable output voltage ranges from 1.2V to 37V.
- It is available in two packages.
- Its input voltage range is up to 40 volts.
- It has outstanding load & line regulation specifications.
- It has TTL shutdown ability.
- It utilizes readily obtainable standard inductors.
- These ICs are simple to use.
- They have high efficiency & thermal shutdown.
The disadvantages of LM2595 IC include the following.
- These ICs are complex and use many semiconductors, magnetic parts, and passive components.
- Thus it makes it very difficult to design & obtain a new product working correctly.
- The integration range in switching regulators can be costly.
- The high-frequency switching within these regulators can produce more noise which causes current and voltage ripple at the I/O filters.
- Whenever the input voltage is decreased the inductor charge times need to be longer to keep the output.
- More external parts are necessary
- Complicated design can increase noise
Applications
The applications of LM2595 IC include the following.
- The LM2595 monolithic IC is used to design a step-down switching regulator:
- This IC can be utilized in DC/DC power modules.
- It can be utilized as an LED driver, charging port controller, and USB power switch.
- This IC can be used for OLED and LCD power & drivers.
- This IC is used in power supply, battery charging, voltage regulation, DC to DC buck converter, test equipment, measurement equipment, etc.
- This monolithic IC is suited ideally for easy & convenient step−down switching regulator design.
- So these ICs are used in AC to DC & DC to DC converters, Gate drivers, LED drivers, DDR memory power ICs, OLED and LCD display power & drivers.
Please refer to this link for the LM2595 IC Datasheet.
Thus, this is an overview of LM2595 IC, pinout, features, specifications, circuit, working, pros, cons, and applications. So, the LM2595 is a monolithic IC available in 5-pin TO-220 & 5-pin TO-263 packages that drives a 1A load with outstanding line & load regulation. Thus these ICs are simple to use with the least number of external components with a fixed frequency oscillator & internal frequency compensation. So these series of ICs operate at 150 kHz switching frequency. Therefore, here is a question for you, what is LM2596 IC?