A low quiescent current LDO is a low-dropout voltage regulator optimized to operate with a drastically low quiescent current (Iq, or self-consumption), which is lower than or negligible compared to the average load current it supplies.
This feature is necessary for power-budgeted applications, such as battery-powered devices or green-compliant equipment with long stand-by operation, where it helps extend the battery life and reduces the overall power consumption.
ST’s series of low quiescent current LDO regulators is ideal for portable consumer devices, such as smartphones, smart watches, Bluetooth earphones, and wearables. Industrial, smart building and smart-home sensors can also benefit from the very low quiescent current, both in operating and disabled (stand-by) modes. Other applications include smart meters, healthcare devices and coin-cell powered devices.
Various small footprint package options are available including the SOT23-5L, SOT323-5L, Flip-Chip4 from 0.65 x 0.65 mm and DFN from 1 x 1 mm.
