TO-36 Package

The TO-36 is an old type of 'metal can' package for semiconductor devices.  The TO-36 was used primarily in housing power transistors but is now considered obsolete, having been replaced largely by the TO-3.

The TO-36 housing is made of metal, with the microchip mounted on the die pad of its metal header and then sealed with a metal cap by high-current welding.

Most TO-36 packages come with three terminals, with the center terminal in the form of a screw that's also used for mounting the transistor to a heat sink or chassis. For a TO-36 transistor, the screw-type center lead is often used for the collector while the other leads are used for the base and emitter.

Table 1. Properties of a Typical 3-lead TO-36 Package