Boost converter for single-cell battery rails
The Texas Instruments TPS61011DGS is a fixed-output step-up (boost) DC-DC converter in a 10-pin MSOP package. It takes an input as low as 0.8 V and delivers a regulated 1.5 V output at up to 390 mA switch current, switching at 500 kHz. The synchronous rectifier keeps efficiency up in portable designs where every milliwatt counts.
0.8 V minimum input — single-cell alkaline or NiMH
The input range from 0.8 V to 1.5 V means this part can run from a single alkaline or NiMH cell all the way down to near-depleted voltage. That 0.8 V floor lets the converter keep the rail alive when the battery is almost flat — a common requirement in handheld instruments and wireless sensors.
390 mA switch current — what it can drive
The 390 mA switch current limit sets the maximum output power. At 1.5 V out, you can expect roughly 250-300 mA continuous to the load after losses, depending on input voltage. That is enough for a small microcontroller, a few LEDs, or a sensor node — not for a motor or radio PA.
10-MSOP — reworkable with care
The low thermal mass means it reflows quickly; just watch the adjacent passives.