Shunt voltage references

Low IQ and high precision for your power and signal chain applications

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We offer a wide variety of shunt voltage references (VREFs) for use in precision signal chain and optocoupler flyback converter applications. Our low-power shunt VREFs and high-accuracy shunt VREFs enable systems such as battery-powered and loop-powered industrial applications to more demanding system requirments using high-resolution data converters. The shunt references also meet the needs of other applications such as current sources, voltage monitors and LED drivers.

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Low IQ

Reduce current regulation in your design to meet low-power standards.

High precision

Improve precision on power rails or noncalibrated signal chain conditioning.

Standard

Simplify your design with industry standard 1.24-V or 2.5-V voltage references.

Automotive

Leverage AEC-Q100 qualified shunt voltage references for automotive designs.

Featured shunt voltage references

Design & development resources

Evaluation board
ATL431 adjustable shunt regulator evaluation module

The ATL431EVM-001 evaluation module (EVM) features the functionality and adjustability of the ATL431 by letting you program the cathode voltage with various resistor values. You can also set the cathode current using the various resistors in series with the supply. (...)

Calculation tool
Shunt voltage reference external resistor quick-start calculator

This external resistor quick-start calculator tool lets you easily calculate valid external resistor values relative to voltage reference, supply and load-current bounds. With these inputs, you can instantly view the resulting calculations and use the color-coded indications to understand (...)

PSpice model
LM4050A25 PSpice Transient Model
PSpice® model for the LM4050 family of shunt references, including LM4050-N and LM4050-N-Q1

Reference designs related to Shunt voltage references

Use our reference design selection tool to find designs that best match your application and parameters.

Power trends

Low quiescent current (IQ)

Minimize idle power consumption with low-quiescent current (IQ) shunt voltage references. Low idle power consumption in the power supply can help you design Energy Star-rated appliances and small but reliable power adapters. Our low-IQ shunt voltage references can help your power-supply designs achieve low standby power and longer battery run times, while lowering system costs.

Selection guide
431 Device Nomenclature (Rev. B)
Shunt reference 431 family naming convention and side-by-side comparisons of the key diffeences amoingst the footprint compaitible devices.
PDF
Application brief
Using Voltage Supervisors in High Voltage Applications (Rev. B)
Learn how shunt voltage references can help you successfully use voltage supervisors in high-voltage applications.
PDF | HTML
Featured products for low quiescent current (IQ)
ATL431LI ACTIVE Low-IQ programmable shunt regulator offered in an ultra-small DQN package
ATL431 ACTIVE 2.5-V low-IQ adjustable precision shunt regulator
LM4051-N ACTIVE Fixed & adjustable, precision micropower shunt voltage reference
High precision

Minimize power consumption and extend battery life with our high-accuracy shunt references. Some power supplies, such as those used in servers and industrial instruments, accuracy and stability requirements demand more precise voltage references that can keep the output accurate across changes in input voltage, output load and operating temperature.  Our portfolio of high-accuracy, low-temperature coefficient shunt voltage references help enable a more efficient power supply.

Featured products for high precision
LM4050-N ACTIVE 50-ppm/°C precision micropower shunt voltage reference
LM4040-N ACTIVE 100-ppm/°C precision micropower shunt voltage reference
LM4051-N ACTIVE Fixed & adjustable, precision micropower shunt voltage reference

Discover featured applications

Hybrid, electric and powertrain systems
Improve accuracy in HEV/EV applications with low-power adjustable shunt references
Grid infrastructure
Achieve high-accuracy voltage regulation in grid applications with shunt voltage references
Appliances
Extend your appliance's performance with precision shunt voltage references
Infotainment and cluster
Design in-vehicle infotainment with precision shunt references

Improve accuracy in HEV/EV applications with low-power adjustable shunt references

In hybrid, electric and powertrain systems, shunt voltage references ensure feedback loop control and accuracy in system diagnostics. Our shunt voltage references are available in a range of voltage options and package sizes to meet your system requirements without draining power.

Benefits:

  • Micropower shunt voltage references in small footprints
  • Low output drift vs. temperature ensures stability across temperature ranges
  • An adjustable reference pin enables you to set the output voltage as high as 36 V (TL431LI-Q1)

Featured resources

REFERENCE DESIGNS
  • TIDA-01168 – Bidirectional DC/DC Converter Reference Design for 12-V/48-V Automotive Systems
  • TIDA-01505 – Automotive 40-V to 1-kV input flyback reference design supporting regenerative braking test
PRODUCTS
  • TL431LI-Q1 – Automotive, adjustable, precision shunt regulator with optimized reference current
  • LM4050-N-Q1 – Automotive, 50-ppm/°C precision micropower shunt voltage reference

Achieve high-accuracy voltage regulation in grid applications with shunt voltage references

Available in multiple output and accuracy options to suit your design's needs, our shunt voltage references offer accurate and cost-effective power-management solutions.

Benefits: 

  • Adjustable voltage options from 2.5 V up to 36 V
  • High initial accuracy and low quiescent current
  • Cost-competitive and industry-pin-to-pin devices

Featured resources

REFERENCE DESIGNS
  • PMP8471 – QR Flyback Converter for High Input Voltage (up to 415Vac)
  • PMP7932 – Isolated Flyback Converter for Industrial Bias Supply - Reference Design
PRODUCTS
  • TL431 – Adjustable precision shunt regulator
  • TLV841 – Ultra-low-voltage nanopower supervisor with adjustable release delay in wafer chip-scale package
  • LM4040 – Fixed voltage, 45-µA, precision micropower shunt voltage reference
HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT
  • ATL431EVM-001 – ATL431 adjustable shunt regulator evaluation module
  • TLV841EVM – TLV841 evaluation module for ultra-low-voltage nanopower supervisor with adjustable release delay

Extend your appliance's performance with precision shunt voltage references

The wide range of package, voltage and accuracy options of our precision shunt voltage references enable reliable power-supply designs.

Benefits: 

  • Fixed and adjustable shunt reference selection
  • 1-mm-by-1-mm package size
  • Low quiescent current options for battery-operated applications

Featured resources

REFERENCE DESIGNS
  • TIDA-00300 – Isolated power architecture reference design for communication and analog input/output modules
  • TIDA-01141 – Shunt-Based, <1% Accurate, ±100A, High-Side, Bi-directional Current Measurement Reference Design
  • PMP8606 – 300W Full Bridge Phase Shifted (FBPS) DC/DC Power Supply Reference Design
PRODUCTS
  • TL431 – Adjustable precision shunt regulator
  • LM4040-N – 100-ppm/°C precision micropower shunt voltage reference
  • TLV431 – 1.5% accuracy, low-voltage, adjustable precision shunt regulator
HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT
  • ATL431EVM-001 – ATL431 adjustable shunt regulator evaluation module

Design in-vehicle infotainment with precision shunt references

In infotainment systems, shunt voltage references in flyback converters handle feedback loop control and precision referencing for internal analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Adding an external shunt voltage reference for your internal ADC helps maximize your system's error budget.

Benefits:  

  • Micropower shunt references in small footprints
  • Low output drift vs. temperature ensures stability across temperature ranges
  • An adjustable reference pin enables you to set the output voltage as high as 36 V (TL431LI-Q1)

Featured resources

REFERENCE DESIGNS
  • PMP10652 – System-Level Reference Design for 30W ADAS System With Required Automotive Protections
  • PMP9780 – Reference Design: Bipolar TFT LCD Supply Using TPS65131-Q1 and Charge Pumps
  • TIDA-00746 – 17W System-Level Power Reference Design for Automotive Infotainment Processor Power
PRODUCTS
  • LM4050-N-Q1 – Automotive, 50-ppm/°C precision micropower shunt voltage reference
  • TL431LI-Q1 – Automotive, adjustable, precision shunt regulator with optimized reference current
  • TLV431A-Q1 – Automotive, low-voltage adjustable precision shunt regulator
DESIGN TOOLS AND SIMULATION

Technical resources

Application brief
Application brief
Automotive LED Lighting with Adjustable Shunt References
Learn how to use a simple adjustable shunt voltage reference to power LEDs in automotive lighting applications.
document-pdfAcrobat PDF
Application brief
Application brief
Using Voltage Supervisors in High Voltage Applications (Rev. B)
Learn how shunt voltage references can help you successfully use voltage supervisors in high-voltage applications.
document-pdfAcrobat PDF
E-book
E-book
Tips and tricks for designing with voltage references (Rev. A)
Tips and tricks for designing with voltage references provides a comprehensive overview of voltage reference basics and application design.
document-pdfAcrobat PDF