It operates as a two-terminal shunt (Zener-like) device, requiring only a cathode current of 400 µA minimum to regulate. The reference is housed in an 8-SOIC surface-mount package and rated for the commercial temperature range of 0°C to 70°C — suited for indoor equipment, bench instruments, and general-purpose PCB designs where a stable 2.5V-class reference is needed for ADC references, comparator thresholds, or bias supplies.
The fixed 2.49V output is a standard bandgap voltage. The ±2% tolerance means the actual output can vary from about 2.44V to 2.54V at room temperature.
Shunt topology: cathode current and output drive
As a shunt reference, the LM336BDG4-2-5 sinks current from the load through the cathode to ground. The minimum cathode current of 400 µA must be maintained to keep the reference in regulation — this sets a lower bound on the series resistor value from the supply. The maximum output current is 10 mA, meaning the reference can directly drive a moderate load (e.g., an ADC reference input) but not a heavy analog rail. For loads exceeding 10 mA, an external buffer is required. The 8-SOIC package dissipates heat adequately for this current level within the commercial temperature range.