STCS05A

0.5 A max constant current LED driver

Datasheet - production data

Description
The STCS05A is a BiCMOS constant current
source designed to provide a precise constant
current starting from a varying input voltage
source. The main target is to replace discrete
components solution for driving LEDs in low
voltage applications such as 5 V, 12 V or 24 V
SO-8 giving benefits in terms of precision, integration
and reliability.
The current is set with external resistor up to 0.5
A with a ± 10 % precision; a dedicated pin allows
implementing PWM dimming. An external
Features capacitor allows setting the slope for the current
• Up to 40 V input voltage rise from tens of microseconds to tens of
milliseconds allowing reduction of EMI.
• Less than 0.5 V voltage overhead
An open-drain pin output provides information on
• Up to 0.5 A output current
load disconnection condition.
• PWM dimming pin
• Shutdown pin
• LED disconnection diagnostic

Applications
• LED constant current supplying for varying
input voltages
• Low voltage lighting
• Small appliances LED lighting

Table 1. Device summary

Order code Package Packing

STCS05ADR SO-8 2500 parts per reel

April 2022 DocID14510 Rev 4 1/18

This is information on a product in full production. www.st.com
Contents STCS05A

Contents

1 Application diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 Pin configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 Maximum ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

4 Electrical characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

5 Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

6 Typical performance characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

7 Detail description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.1 Current setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.2 Enable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.3 PWM dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
7.4 Diagnostic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

8 Application information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8.1 Reverse polarity protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8.2 Thermal considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

9 Package mechanical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

10 Revision history . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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STCS05A Application diagram

1 Application diagram

Figure 1. Typical application diagram for 0.5 A LED current

VIN
4.5V to 40V
BAT46ZFILM

RIN 100 ohm CBYP

0.1µF
VCC DRAIN

ON PWM
OFF
STCS05A CDRAIN
0.47µF
ON EN
OFF
DISC SLOPE GND FB

RFB
Load disconnection CSLOPE
0.2 ohm
(Open Drain output) 10nF

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Pin configuration STCS05A

2 Pin configuration

Figure 2. Pin connections (top view)

Table 2. Pin description

Pin n° Symbol Note

1 VCC Supply voltage

2 PWM PWM dimming input
3 EN Shutdown pin
4 DRAIN Internal N-MOSFET drain
Feedback input. The control loop regulates the current in such a way that the average
5 FB voltage at the FB input is 100 mV (nominal). The cathode of the LED and a resistor to
ground to set the LED current should be connected at this point.
6 GND Ground
7 SLOPE Capacitor for slope control
8 DISC Load disconnection flag (open drain)

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STCS05A Maximum ratings

3 Maximum ratings

Table 3. Absolute maximum ratings

Symbol Parameter Value Unit

VCC DC supply voltage -0.3 to +45

V
DRAIN Drain pin -0.3 to +45
PWM, EN, DISC Logic pins -0.3 to + VCC + 0.3 V
SLOPE, FB Configuration pins -0.3 to + 3.3 V
ESD Human body model (all pins) ±2 kV
Power Dissipation SO-8 TA = 25°C (1) 1.25 W
TJ Junction temperature -40 to 150 °C
TSTG Storage temperature range -55 to 150 °C
1. See Figure 16 for details of max power dissipation for ambient temperature higher than 25 °C

Note: Absolute maximum ratings are those values beyond which damage to the device may occur.
Functional operation under these conditions is not implied.

Table 4. Thermal data

Symbol Parameter SO-8 Unit

RthJC Thermal resistance junction-case 20 °C/W

RthJA Thermal resistance junction-ambient (1) 100 °C/W
1. This value depends from thermal design of PCB on which the device is mounted.

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Electrical characteristics STCS05A

4 Electrical characteristics

Table 5. Electrical characteristics (VCC = 12 V; IO = 100 mA; TJ = -40 °C to 125 °C; VDRAIN = 1 V;
CDRAIN = 1 µF; CBYP = 100 nF typical values are at TA = 25 °C, unless otherwise specified)
Symbol Parameter Test conditions Min. Typ. Max. Unit

VCC Supply voltage range 4.5 40 V

Output current range 1 500 mA
IO Output current RFB = 0.2 Ω 500 mA
Regulation (percentage with VCC = 4.5 to 40 V,
-1 +1 %
respect to VCC = 12 V) IO = 100 mA; VDRAIN = 1 V
VFB Feedback Voltage IO = 0 to 0.5 A 90 100 110 mV
On Mode 450 750
Shutdown Mode;
Quiescent current (Measured on 1
ICC VCC = 5 to 12 V µA
VCC pin)
Shutdown Mode;
3
VCC = 12 to 40 V
IO = 100 mA 0.12 0.16
VDROP Dropout voltage (VDRAIN to GND) V
IO = 0.5 A 0.58 0.9
LEAKDRAIN Drain leakage current Shutdown; VDRAIN = 40 V 10 µA
Rise/Fall time of the current on CSLOPE = 10 nF,
TR/TF 800 µs
PWM transition TJ = -40 °C to 105 °C
VPWM rising, VCC = 12 V
3
Delay on PWM signal (see CSLOPE = floating
TD µs
Figure 3) VPWM falling, VCC = 12 V
1.2
CSLOPE = floating
Low level voltage ISINK = 5 mA 0.2 0.5 V
Leakage current VDISC = 5 V 1 µA
DISC
Load disconnection threshold DISC Turn-ON 75
mV
(VDRAIN-GND) DISC Turn-OFF 110

Thermal Shutdown temperature 155

°C
Protection Hysteresis 25

Logic inputs (PWM and EN)

VL Input low level 0.4 V

VH Input high level 1.2 V
EN, PWM leakage current VEN = 5 V; VPWM = 5 V 2
EN input leakage current VEN = 40 V 60 µA
PWM input leakage current VPWM = 40 V 120

Note: All devices 100 % production tested at TA = 25 °C. Limits over the operating temperature
range are guaranteed by design.

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STCS05A Timing

5 Timing

Figure 3. PWM and output current timing

PWM

90%

10%
Current

TD Trise TD Tfall

Figure 4. Block diagram

High Voltage Low Voltage 3.3 V H.V.

45 V 45 V

Thermal
Preregulator Bandgap Shutdown
VCC
3.3 V 1.23 V DISC
Shutdown +
all blocks
75 mV

Enable
- Disc
EN Enable,
Input comp
PWM & DRAIN
Slope controll
PWM Logic
PWM Input

+
Logic
100 mV - Driver
Comp
GND Slope FB
Control

SLOPE

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18
Typical performance characteristics STCS05A

6 Typical performance characteristics

Figure 5. IDRAIN vs. VCC, TA = 25 °C Figure 6. IDRAIN vs. RSET

1000

100

IDRAIN [mA]
10

1
0.1 1 10 100
RFB [Ω]

Figure 7. IDRAIN vs. VCC, TA = 25 °C Figure 8. VDROP (including VFB) vs. temperature

Figure 9. ICC vs. temperature Figure 10. ICC vs. VCC

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STCS05A Typical performance characteristics

Figure 11. Trise/Tfall vs. CSLOPE Figure 12. Turn-on time

IDRAIN = 80 mA - CSLOPE = 10nF - TA = 25° C

VPWM 2V/DIV
IDRAIN 20mA/DIV
VDRAIN 1V/DIV
Time 210µsec/DIV

Figure 13. Rise time Figure 14. Fall time

IDRAIN = 80 mA - CSLOPE = 10nF - TA = 25° C IDRAIN = 80 mA - CSLOPE = 10nF - TA = 25° C

VPWM 2V/DIV VPWM 2V/DIV

IDRAIN 20mA/DIV IDRAIN 20mA/DIV
VDRAIN 1V/DIV VDRAIN 1V/DIV
Time 200µsec/DIV Time 200µsec/DIV

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Detail description STCS05A

7 Detail description

The STCS05A is a BiCMOS constant current source designed to provide a precise constant
current starting from a varying input voltage source. The main target is to replace discrete
components solution for driving LEDs in low voltage applications such as 5 V, 12 V or 24 V
giving benefits in terms of precision, integration and reliability.

7.1 Current setting

The current is set with an external sensing resistor connected to the FB pin. The feedback
voltage is 100 mV, then a low resistor value can be chosen reducing power dissipation. A
value between 1 mA and 500 mA can be set according to the resistor value, the resulting
output current has a tolerance of ± 10 %.
For instance, should one need a 350 mA LEDs current, RF should be selected according to
the following equation:
RF = VFB / ILEDs = 100 mV / 350 mA = 284 mΩ

7.2 Enable
When the enable pin is low the device completely off thus reducing current consumption to
less than 1 µA. When in shutdown mode, the internal main switch is off.

7.3 PWM dimming

The PWM input allows implementing PWM dimming on the LED current; when the PWM
input is high the main switch will be on and vice versa. A typical frequency range for the
input is from few Hertz to 50 kHz. The maximum dimming frequency is limited by the
minimum rise/fall time of the current (obtained with CSLOPE = 0) which is around 4 µs each.
Above 50 kHz the current waveforms starts assuming a triangular shape.
While the PWM input is switching, the overall circuitry remains on, this is needed in order to
implement two important features: short delay time and controlled slope for the current.
Since the PWM pin is controlling just the main switch, the overall circuitry is always on and it
is able to control the delay time between the PWM input signal and the output current in the
range of few µs, this is important to implement synchronization among several light LED
sources.
The rise and fall slope of the current is controlled by the CSLOPE capacitor. The rise and fall
time are linear dependent from the CSLOPE capacitor value (see graph in typical
characteristics). A controlled rise time has two main benefits: reducing EMI noise and avoid
current spike at turn on.
When CSLOPE is left floating, the internal switch is turned on at maximum speed, in this
condition an overshoot can be present on the LED current before the system goes into
regulation.

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STCS05A Detail description

7.4 Diagnostic
When STCS05A is in on mode (EN is high), the device is able to detect disconnection or fail
of the LED string monitoring VDRAIN pin. If VDRAIN is lower than 75 mV the DISC pin is
pulled low regardless the PWM pin status. This information can be used by the system to
inform that some problem happens in the LEDs.

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Application information STCS05A

8 Application information

8.1 Reverse polarity protection

STCS05A must be protected from reverse connection of the supply voltage. Since the
current sunk from VCC pin is in the range of 450 µA a small diode connected to VCC is able
to protect the chip. Care must be taken for the whole application circuit, especially for the
LEDs, in fact, in case a negative voltage is applied between VIN and GND, a negative
voltage will be applied to the LED string that must have a total breakdown voltage higher
than the negative applied voltage in order to avoid any damage.

Figure 15. Reverse polarity condition

VIN

BAT46
or similar VCC DRAIN

PWM

EN
DISC SLOPE GND FB
+

8.2 Thermal considerations

The STCS05A is able to control a LED current up to 500 mA and able to sustain a voltage
on the drain pin up to 40 V. Those operating conditions are however limited by thermal
constraints, the thermal resistances shown in the thermal data section is the typical ones.
The power dissipation in the device can be calculated as follow:
PD = (VDRAIN - VFB) x ILED + (VCC x ICC)
basing on this and on the thermal resistance and ambient temperature, the junction
temperature can be calculated as:
TJ = RthJA x PD + TA
A typical application could be:
– Input voltage: 12 V;
– 3 white LEDs with an typical VF = 3.6 V;
– LEDs current: 350 mA;
– Package: SO-8;

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STCS05A Application information

– TA = 50 °C;
In this case VDRAIN = 12 - 3 x 3.6 = 1.2 V
PD = (1.2 - 0.1) x 0.35 + 12 x 0.5 x 10-3 = 0.385 + 6 x 10-3 = 391 mW
The junction temperature will be:
TJ = 100 x 0.391 + 50 = 89 °C
For a correct operation of the chip, in this example the ambient temperature must not
exceed about 110 °C.
The following pictures show the maximum power dissipation according to the ambient
temperature:

Figure 16. Maximum power dissipation vs TA for SO-8

1.40
RthJA = 100 [°C/W]
1.20
PDMAX [W]

1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40 PDMAX = (TJMAX-TA)/RthJA
0.20
25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125
[°C]

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Package mechanical data STCS05A

9 Package mechanical data

In order to meet environmental requirements, ST offers these devices in different grades of

ECOPACK® packages, depending on their level of environmental compliance. ECOPACK®
specifications, grade definitions and product status are available at: www.st.com.
ECOPACK® is an ST trademark.

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STCS05A Package mechanical data

SO-8 mechanical data

mm. inch.
Dim.
Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max.

A 1.35 1.75 0.053 0.069

A1 0.10 0.25 0.04 0.010

A2 1.10 1.65 0.043 0.065

B 0.33 0.51 0.013 0.020

C 0.19 0.25 0.007 0.010

D 4.80 5.00 0.189 0.197

E 3.80 4.00 0.150 0.157

e 1.27 0.050

H 5.80 6.20 0.228 0.244

h 0.25 0.50 0.010 0.020

L 0.40 1.27 0.016 0.050

k 8° (max.)

ddd 0.1 0.04

0016023/C

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Package mechanical data STCS05A

Tape & reel SO-8 mechanical data

mm. inch.
Dim.
Min. Typ. Max. Min. Typ. Max.

A 330 12.992

C 12.8 13.2 0.504 0.519

D 20.2 0.795

N 60 2.362

T 22.4 0.882

Ao 8.1 8.5 0.319 0.335

Bo 5.5 5.9 0.216 0.232

Ko 2.1 2.3 0.082 0.090

Po 3.9 4.1 0.153 0.161

P 7.9 8.1 0.311 0.319

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STCS05A Revision history

10 Revision history

Table 6. Document revision history

Date Revision Changes

04-Mar-2008 1 Initial release.

02-Jul-2008 2 Modified: Table 5 on page 6.
20-Jan-2022 3 Updated: Applications on the cover page.
21-Apr-2022 4 Updated: Power dissipation value in Table 3 and Section 8.2.

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 STCS05A

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