TPS61200DRCR PCB Design Guide: Footprint, Pinout, and Alternatives
Adjustable synchronous boost converter that operates from inputs down to 0.3 V
TPS61200DRCR is the 3000-piece reel orderable for TI's adjustable TPS61200 synchronous boost converter. It operates from 0.3 V to 5.5 V after startup and can regulate from 1.8 V to 5.5 V. That low operating floor suits single-cell alkaline, NiMH, and fuel-gauge designs, but it does not mean the converter cold-starts at 0.3 V. TI specifies the startup threshold separately at 0.5 V maximum.
The converter integrates its main and synchronous rectifier switches, limits average inductor current to 1500 mA maximum, and uses Power Save mode at light load. The ten-pin VSON still needs an inductor, local ceramic capacitors, feedback resistors, and deliberate control-pin wiring. Layout matters because the switching loops are small and fast, while the exposed pad carries heat and should connect to power ground.
What breaks boards
Do not promise 0.3 V cold start
The converter can operate down to 0.3 V after startup, but the electrical table specifies 0.5 V as the maximum minimum startup voltage. Size the source so VIN reaches the startup threshold under load before relying on the lower operating floor.
Connect every control pin to a defined level
EN and PS must not float. If the adjustable UVLO function is unused, connect UVLO to VAUX as the pin table requires; a drifting control pin can disable the converter or change its light-load mode.
Solder the exposed pad to power ground
The exposed thermal pad must be soldered for mechanical reliability and heat flow, and TI says it should connect to PGND. Treat the center pad as part of the electrical and thermal layout, not optional footprint copper.
Select the inductor for peak current, not load current
TI recommends 1.5 uH to 4.7 uH and calls out 2.2 uH for best performance, but the current rating still has to cover calculated peak current plus load-transient and fault margin. Saturation breaks the current-transfer assumptions behind the design.
Place the ceramic capacitors at the pins
Use at least 4.7 uF at VIN and the calculated stable output capacitance in X5R or X7R ceramic. Keep them close to VIN, VOUT, and PGND; remote bulk capacitance does not replace the small local high-frequency current loops.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Orderable identity | TPS61200DRCR; active; 3000 devices per reel | TI TPS61200 product page metadata and SLVS577E, Device Options, page 4 |
| Package | 10-pin VSON (DRC), 3 mm x 3 mm | TI TPS61200 product page, Package | Pins | Size; SLVS577E, Pin Configuration, page 4 |
| Input voltage | 0.3 V to 5.5 V recommended operating range | SLVS577E, Recommended Operating Conditions, Table 8.3, page 5 |
| Startup voltage | 0.5 V maximum minimum input voltage at startup | SLVS577E, Electrical Characteristics, Table 8.5, page 6 |
| Output voltage | 1.8 V to 5.5 V adjustable output range | SLVS577E, Electrical Characteristics, Table 8.5, page 6 |
| Inductor current limit | 1200 mA minimum, 1350 mA typical, 1500 mA maximum average inductor current limit | SLVS577E, Electrical Characteristics, Table 8.5, page 6 |
| Oscillator frequency | 1250 kHz minimum, 1650 kHz maximum | SLVS577E, Electrical Characteristics, Table 8.5, page 6 |
| Quiescent current | 50 uA typical, 70 uA maximum from VOUT with no load and Power Save enabled | SLVS577E, Electrical Characteristics, Table 8.5, page 6 |
| Operating temperature | -40 degC to 85 degC operating free-air temperature | SLVS577E, Recommended Operating Conditions, Table 8.3, page 5 |
| Inductor selection | 1.5 uH to 4.7 uH recommended range; 2.2 uH recommended for best performance | SLVS577E, Inductor Selection, Section 11.2.2.3, page 15 |
Verified against the manufacturer datasheet on 2026-07-11. Confirm the current revision before production use.
Alternatives
- TPS61200DRCT: The same adjustable TPS61200 in the same 10-pin DRC package, supplied on a 250-piece mini-reel instead of the DRCR 3000-piece reel.
- TPS61201DRCR: A fixed 3.3 V member of the same converter family. It removes the adjustable feedback choice, so verify the fixed output and BOM before substituting it.
- TPS61023DRLR: A newer TI boost converter for higher switch-current designs. Its package, pinout, control behavior, and operating limits differ, so it is not a drop-in replacement.
Common questions
- Can TPS61200DRCR start from 0.3 V?
- No guaranteed cold start is specified at 0.3 V. TI gives 0.3 V as the operating input floor and 0.5 V maximum as the minimum startup input. The source must first reach the startup threshold under load.
- What is the difference between TPS61200DRCR and TPS61200DRCT?
- They use the same adjustable TPS61200 silicon and 10-pin DRC package. DRCR is supplied on a 3000-piece reel; DRCT is the 250-piece mini-reel orderable.
- What inductor should I use with TPS61200DRCR?
- TI recommends 1.5 uH to 4.7 uH and prefers 2.2 uH across the full input and output range. Check saturation and RMS ratings against calculated peak current, load transients, and fault conditions.
- Can EN, PS, or UVLO float?
- No. TI explicitly says EN and PS must not float. Connect unused UVLO to VAUX; otherwise use the resistor divider described in the data sheet to set the shutdown threshold.
- Does the exposed pad need to be soldered?
- Yes. TI requires it for suitable power dissipation and mechanical reliability and says it should connect to PGND. Include the pad, paste opening, and ground vias in the footprint and assembly plan.
Sources
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