2.5 V fixed shunt reference in SOT-23-3
It is a three-terminal shunt (two-terminal plus cathode) device — the load and a bias resistor sit in series with the cathode, and the reference regulates by shunting current to ground. The SOT-23-3 package and surface-mount footprint make it a direct fit for compact PCBs in industrial control, sensor interfaces, and power-supply monitoring where a stable voltage rail is needed without a dedicated reference IC.
15 mA output, 80 µA cathode — sizing the bias resistor
The shunt can sink up to 15 mA continuous, which sets the ceiling for how much load current plus the reference's own quiescent draw the external resistor must supply. The minimum cathode current is 80 µA — if the total current through the reference drops below that, regulation is lost. For a typical 5 V rail feeding the reference through a resistor, the resistor value is chosen so that (Vin - 2.5 V) / R stays between 80 µA and 15 mA across all load and temperature conditions.
It is a standard catalog part from TI's LM4040 family, in continuous production.
