TSL238
HIGH-SENSITIVITY
LIGHT-TO-FREQUENCY CONVERTER
TAOS073J SEPTEMBER 2008
2
r
r
Copyright E 2008, TAOS Inc.
The LUMENOLOGY r Company
www.taosinc.com
Terminal Functions
TERMINAL
NAME
D PKG
NO.
TYPE
DESCRIPTION
GND
6
Power supply ground. All voltages are referenced to GND.
NC
1, 2, 3
No connection.
NC
4
Substrate. Pin 4 is resistively connected to the substrate of the die, which is at the same potential as pin 6.
Pin 4 must either be connected to pin 6 or left unconnected. Pin 4 cannot be used for a ground connection
by itself.
OE
5
I
Enable for f
O
(active low).
OUT
8
O
Output frequency.
V
DD
7
Supply voltage.
Absolute Maximum Ratings over operating free-air temperature range (unless otherwise noted)
Supply voltage, V
DD
(see Note 1)
6 V
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Input voltage range, V
I
0.3 V to V
DD
+0.3 V
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Output current, I
O
?5 mA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Short circuit of output to ground duration
5 s
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating free-air temperature range, T
A
(see Note 2)
40癈 to 85癈
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Storage temperature range, T
stg
(see Note 2)
40癈 to 85癈
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Solder conditions in accordance with JEDEC JSTD020A, maximum temperature (see Note 3)
260癈
. . .
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 under recommended operating conditions is not
implied. Exposure to absolute-maximum-rated conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.
NOTES:  1.  All voltage values are with respect to GND.
2.  Long-term storage or operation above 70癈 could cause package yellowing that will lower the sensitivity to wavelengths < 500nm.
3.  The device may be hand soldered provided that heat is applied only to the solder pad and no contact is made between the tip of
the solder iron and the device lead. The maximum time heat should be applied to the device is 5 seconds.
Recommended Operating Conditions
MIN
NOM
MAX
UNIT
Supply voltage, V
DD
2.7
5
5.5
V
High-level input voltage, V
IH
0.8 ?/SPAN> V
DD
V
DD
V
Low-level input voltage, V
IL
0
0.5
V
Operating free-air temperature range, T
A
40
70
癈