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_______________General Description
The MAX6120 is the lowest-power 1.2V, precision,
three-terminal voltage reference offered in a SOT23
package. Ideal for 3V battery-powered equipment
where power conservation is critical, the MAX6120 is a
low-power alternative to existing two-terminal shunt ref-
erences. Unlike two-terminal references that throw
away battery current and require an external series
resistor, the MAX6120 has a 70µA maximum supply
current (typically only 50µA) that is independent of the
input voltage. This feature translates to maximum effi-
ciency at all battery voltages.
The MAX6120 operates from a supply voltage as low as
2.4V, and initial accuracy is ±1% for the SOT23 pack-
age. Output voltage temperature coefficient is typically
only 30ppm/°C, and is guaranteed to be less than
100ppm/°C in the SOT23 package. For a guaranteed
output voltage temperature coefficient of less than
50ppm/°C, see the MAX6520 data sheet.
________________________Applications
Battery-Powered Systems
Portable and Hand-Held Equipment
Data-Acquisition Systems
Instrumentation and Process Control
____________________________Features
3-Pin SOT23 Package
Supply Current Independent of Input Voltage
Over Temperature
50µA Supply Current
2.4V to 11V Input Voltage Range
30ppm/°C Typical Tempco (SOT23)
±1% Initial Accuracy (SOT23)
MAX6120
Low-Cost, Micropower, Precision, 3-Terminal,
1.2V Voltage Reference
________________________________________________________________
Maxim Integrated Products
1
1
2
3
4
8
7
6
5
VIN
N.C.
N.C.
N.C.
GND
N.C.
N.C.
VOUT
MAX6120
SO
TOP VIEW
1
2
3GND
VIN
VOUT
MAX6120
SOT23
_________________Pin Configurations
______________Ordering Information
VIN
GND
V+
2.4V to 11V
0V
0.1µFVOUT VOUT
1.2V
MAX6120
__________Typical Operating Circuit
PART
MAX6120ESA
MAX6120EUR -40°C to +85°C
-40°C to +85°C
TEMP. RANGE PIN-PACKAGE
8 SO
3 SOT23-3
19-0458; Rev 1; 9/96
80
50 2
SUPPLY CURRENT 
vs. INPUT VOLTAGE
MAX6120 TOC-01
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
SUPPLY CURRENT (µA)
8
60
46
70
103957 11
1.20010
1.1999024 8
OUTPUT VOLTAGE
vs. INPUT VOLTAGE
1.19995
MAX6120-02
INPUT VOLTAGE (V)
OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V)
610
35 9711
1.20005
1.20000
75
50 -50
SUPPLY CURRENT 
vs. TEMPERATURE
MAX6120 TOC-02
TEMPERATURE (°C)
SUPPLY CURRENT (µA)
100
60
55
65
050
70
-25 25 75
VIN = 9V
VIN = 5V
VIN = 3V
__________________________________________Typical Operating Characteristics
(VIN = 3V, ILOAD = 0mA, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
MAX6120
Low-Cost, Micropower, Precision, 3-Terminal,
1.2V Voltage Reference
2 _______________________________________________________________________________________
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS
DC ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
(VIN = 2.4V, ILOAD = 0mA, TA= +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
Stresses beyond those listed under “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. These are stress ratings only, and functional
operation of the device at these or any other conditions beyond those indicated in the operational sections of the specifications is not implied. Exposure to
absolute maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.
Supply Voltage (VIN) ..............................................-0.3V to +12V
VOUT ............................................................-0.3V to (VIN + 0.3V)
Output Short-Circuit Duration ..........Continuous to Either Supply
Continuous Power Dissipation (TA= +70°C)
SOT23 (derate 4mW/°C above +70°C)...........................320mW
Operating Temperature Range ...........................-40°C to +85°C
Storage Temperature Range.............................-65°C to +160°C
Lead Temperature (soldering, 10sec).............................+300°C
en
PARAMETER SYMBOL MIN TYP MAX UNITS
10
400
1.188 1.200 1.212 V
230Line Regulation VOUT/VIN µV/V
4.3
Short-Circuit Output Current ISC 400 mA
CONDITIONS
VIN = 2.4V to 11V, TA= TMIN to T MAX (Note 1)
0.1Hz to 10Hz
10Hz to 10kHz
VOUT shorted to GND
VOUT shorted to VIN
IQ50 58
Quiescent Supply Current 70 µA
TA= +25°C
TA= TMIN to TMAX (Note 1)
1.5 5
Change in Supply Current
vs. Input Voltage IQ/VIN µA/VVIN = 2.4V to 11V
TA= +25°C
µA
Note 1: Production testing done at TA= +25°C, over temperature limits guaranteed by parametric correlation data.
Note 2: Contact factory for availability of a higher-grade, lower-TC option in a SOT23 package.
Output Voltage Noise µVp-p
Load Regulation VOUT/IOUT ILOAD = -50µA to 40A (Note 1) 0.1 1 µV/µA
Output Voltage VOUT 1.176 1.224 VTA= TMIN to TMAX (Note 2)
MAX6120EUR (SOT23)
Output Voltage Temperature
Coefficient TCVOUT 30 100 ppm/°CMAX6120EUR (SOT23), TA= T MIN to TMAX (Note 2)
MAX6120
Low-Cost, Micropower, Precision, 3-Terminal,
1.2V Voltage Reference
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3
0-50
LOAD REGULATION 
vs. TEMPERATURE
MAX6120 TOC-03
TEMPERATURE (°C)
LOAD REGULATION (µV/µA)
100
0.16
0.08
0.24
050
0.32
-25 25 75
100
80
200.001 0.01 1 10 100
POWER-SUPPLY REJECTION RATIO 
vs. FREQUENCY
40
60
MAX1620 TOC-06
FREQUENCY (kHz)
PSRR (dB)
0.1
1.2001
1.2000
1.1997 1 10 1000
OUTPUT VOLTAGE 
vs. SOURCE CURRENT
1.1998
1.1999
MAX1620 TOC-05
SOURCE CURRENT (µA)
OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V)
100
____________________________Typical Operating Characteristics (continued)
(VIN = 3V, ILOAD = 0mA, TA = +25°C, unless otherwise noted.)
0.1Hz TO 100Hz NOISE
50µV/div
1µs/div
A = OUTPUT CURRENT, 50µA/div, ILOAD = 0µA TO -50µA
B = OUTPUT VOLTAGE, 100mV/div
LOAD-TRANSIENT RESPONSE
B
A
10µs/div
A = OUTPUT CURRENT, 500µA/div, ILOAD = 0µA TO 500µA
B = OUTPUT VOLTAGE, 100mV/div
LOAD-TRANSIENT RESPONSE
B
A
10µs/div
A = INPUT VOLTAGE, 100mV/div, VIN = 3V ± 50mV
B = OUTPUT VOLTAGE, 10mV/div
LINE-TRANSIENT RESPONSE
B
A
OUT
IN
5µs/div
MAX6120
Low-Cost, Micropower, Precision, 3-Terminal,
1.2V Voltage Reference
4 _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________Applications Information
Input Bypassing
For the best line-transient performance, decouple the
input with a 0.1µF ceramic capacitor as shown in the
Typical Operating Circuit
. Locate the capacitor as
close to the device pin as possible. Where transient
performance is less important, no capacitor is neces-
sary.
Output Bypass
The MAX6120 performs well without an output decou-
pling capacitor. If your application requires an output
charge reservoir (e.g., to decouple the reference from
the input of a DAC), then make sure that the total output
capacitive load does not exceed 10nF.
DAC
LATCH A DAC A
DAC
LATCH B DAC B
DAC
LATCH C
LATCH
DAC C
SCLK OUTA
OUTB
OUTC
LOUT
DIN
+3V
0.1µF
VIN VOUT
CS REFAB REFC
RESET VDD VSS GND
16-BIT SHIFT REGISTER
CONTROL (8) DATA (8)
MAX512
MAX513
MAX6120
1
2
1
2
3
4567
8
9
10
1112
14
3
0.01µF
Figure 1. 3V, Triple, 8-Bit Serial DAC
Figure 2. Low-Power ±1.2V Reference
+3V
-3V
VIN VOUT
MAX6120
2
13
3
4
6-1.2V
RR
+1.2V 27
MAX406A
_____________________Pin Description
No Connect—not internally
connected
N.C.
GroundGND3
Reference OutputVOUT
2
Input VoltageV IN
1
FUNCTIONNAME
2, 3, 5,
6, 7
4
PIN
1
8
SOSOT23
___________________Chip Information
TRANSISTOR COUNT: 39
MAX6120
Low-Cost, Micropower, Precision, 3-Terminal,
1.2V Voltage Reference
_______________________________________________________________________________________ 5
__________________________________________________Tape-and-Reel Information
4.0±0.1
4.0±0.1
2.0±0.05 1.75±0.1
ø1.5±0.1
ø1.1±0.1
8.0±0.2
3.5±0.05
AY X X
LOT SPECIFIC
CODE
MARKING
INFORMATION
NOTE: DIMENSIONS ARE IN MM.
AND FOLLOW EIA481-1 STANDARD.
ICs MAY ALSO BE MARKED WITH FULL PART NAME: MAX6120
= MAX6120
Maxim cannot assume responsibility for use of any circuitry other than circuitry entirely embodied in a Maxim product. No circuit patent licenses are
implied. Maxim reserves the right to change the circuitry and specifications without notice at any time.
6
___________________Maxim Integrated Products, 120 San Gabriel Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 737-7600
© 1996 Maxim Integrated Products Printed USA is a registered trademark of Maxim Integrated Products.
MAX6120
Low-Cost, Micropower, Precision, 3-Terminal,
1.2V Voltage Reference
________________________________________________________Package Information
L
DIM
A
A1
B
C
D
E
e
H
L
S
α
MIN
0.031
0.001
0.014
0.0034
0.105
0.047
0.070
0.082
0.004
0.017
MAX
0.047
0.005
0.022
0.006
0.120
0.055
0.080
0.098
0.012
0.022
MIN
0.787
0.025
0.356
0.086
2.667
1.194
1.778
2.083
0.102
0.432
MAX
1.194
0.127
0.559
0.152
3.048
1.397
2.032
2.489
0.305
0.559
INCHES MILLIMETERS
α3-PIN SOT23-3
SMALL-OUTLINE
TRANSISTOR PACKAGE
D
e
A
A1
C
B
S
21-0051B
H
E