Fixed -5 V at 275 mA — what this regulator does
The Maxim Integrated MAX735CPA+ is a buck-boost switching regulator that delivers a fixed -5 V output from a positive input rail spanning 4 V to 6.2 V. It uses a buck-boost topology to generate a negative rail from a positive supply — useful when a design needs a small -5 V bias for op-amps, analog front-ends, or level shifters without adding a separate isolated converter. The single output is rated for 275 mA continuous, switching at 160 kHz, and the part comes in a through-hole 8-DIP (8-PDIP) package suited for prototyping, breadboard work, or low-volume production where hand-soldering is preferred.
The 4 V to 6.2 V input window means this part works cleanly off a 5 V rail (nominal) with some headroom. The 275 mA output is enough to bias a handful of op-amps or a small analog subsystem. The fixed -5 V output eliminates external resistor dividers.