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TO-252

TO-252 is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand TO-252 rather than just read about it. In short: TO-252, also known as DPAK or Decawatt Package, is a semiconductor package developed by Motorola for surface mounting on circuit boards. It represents a surface-mount variant of TO-251 package, and smaller variant of the D2PAK package.

TO-252 — main illustration
TO-252 — illustration

Key takeaways

  • TO-252 belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect TO-252 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of TO-252 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

TO-252, also known as DPAK or Decawatt Package, is a semiconductor package developed by Motorola for surface mounting on circuit boards. It represents a surface-mount variant of TO-251 package, and smaller variant of the D2PAK package. It is often used for high-power MOSFETs and voltage regulators.

Variants

Package can have 3 pins with 90 mils (2.3 mm) pitch or 5 pins with 45 mils (1.1 mm) pitch. The middle pin is usually connected to the tab. The middle pin is sometimes omitted.

See also TO-263

References

External links TO-252 standard from JEDEC TO-252 drawings from ON Semiconductor TO-252 package details from Central Semiconductor Corp. TO-252 (DPAK) package information from Amkor Technology

Illustrations

TO-252: Power MOSFET (Advanced Power Electronics AP9870GH)
Power MOSFET (Advanced Power Electronics AP9870GH)
TO-252: Variant with 5 pins: a dual input dropout regulator (Globaltech GS1581D)
Variant with 5 pins: a dual input dropout regulator (Globaltech GS1581D)

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with TO-252

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what TO-252 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to TO-252 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about TO-252 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of TO-252

In research
TO-252 appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses TO-252 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
TO-252 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Semiconductor packages, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for TO-252 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study TO-252 in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what TO-252 means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain TO-252 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is TO-252 in simple terms?

TO-252, also known as DPAK or Decawatt Package, is a semiconductor package developed by Motorola for surface mounting on circuit boards. It represents a surface-mount variant of TO-251 package, and smaller variant of the D2PAK package.

Why does TO-252 matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study TO-252?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on TO-252.

Tags

  • Semiconductor packages

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