Adjustable shunt reference for precision regulation loops
The ±2.2% tolerance on the reference voltage is tighter than the standard 2% grade, which reduces the worst-case error budget in the regulation loop without requiring a trim pot.
Output current and cathode current limits
Rated for 100 mA continuous output current, the TL431CDG4 can sink enough current to drive an optocoupler LED directly in a feedback loop, or to bias a pass transistor in a linear regulator. The minimum cathode current is 1 mA, which sets the lower bound on the bias resistor value for proper regulation.