SLVS582K April 2006 – December 2024 LP2950 , LP2951
PRODUCTION DATA
The JEDEC standard now recommends the use of psi (Ψ) thermal metrics to estimate the junction temperatures of the linear regulator when in-circuit on a typical PCB board application. These metrics are not thermal resistance parameters and instead offer a practical and relative way to estimate junction temperature. These psi metrics are determined to be significantly independent of the copper area available for heat-spreading. The Section 5.4 table lists the primary thermal metrics, which are the junction-to-top characterization parameter (ψJT) and junction-to-board characterization parameter (ψJB). These parameters provide two methods for calculating the junction temperature (TJ), as described in the following equations. Use the junction-to-top characterization parameter (ψJT) with the temperature at the center-top of device package (TT) to calculate the junction temperature. Use the junction-to-board characterization parameter (ψJB) with the PCB surface temperature 1mm from the device package (TB) to calculate the junction temperature.
where:
where:
For detailed information on the thermal metrics and how to use the metrics, see the Semiconductor and IC Package Thermal Metrics application note.