TelCom Semiconductor, Inc. announced the TCN4040 and the TCN4041. The devices are precision micropower shunt voltage references that eliminate the need for an external stabilizing capacitor while maintaining stability with any capacitive load. The TCN4040 and the TCN4041 are exact replacements for the industry-standard LM4040 and LM4041.

The TCN4040/4041 feature low noise output, extended operating temperature range (-40ıC to +85ıC), and wide operating current ranges (60 ıA to 15 mA for the TCN4040; 60 ıA to 12 mA for the TCN4041). Both devices are available in small SOT-23B-3 and 8-pin SOIC packages, and are ideal for battery-powered equipment, instrumentation, process control, and precision audio components.

These are second-source parts for the National 4040/4041, although National also supplies the parts in TO-92 and -- recently -- as die. The market is huge so the strategy here from Telcom seems to be to buy a percentage of the market with pricing, and they certainly would seem to be doing that with the 30% premium on offer. As long as their sales team is up to it they will take a measurable part of the business. 4040s are available at voltages of 2.500, 4.096, 5.000, 8.192, and 10.000 V, while the 4041 is at 1.200 V and adjustable. The TCN4040 is priced at $0.30 for 25,000-piece lots for the +1.0%, 150 ppm/ıC parts.