The
TO-46
is
a
type of 'metal can'
(also known as 'metal header')
package for
semiconductor devices. It is sealed
hermetically
to protect the
device from environmental factors such as moisture and contaminants.
The TO-46 is commonly used in housing transistors and integrated circuits with
low lead counts.
The TO-46 is made primarily 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. The TO-46
looks like a TO-52 but it is slightly smaller than the
latter because of its flatter cap.
Most TO-46 packages come with three terminals,
since the TO-46 is commonly used in three-terminal devices
such as transistors.
Table 1.
Properties of a Typical 3-lead TO-46 Package
|
Base
Diameter |
Cap
Diameter |
Cap
Height |
Min. Lead
Length |
Lead
Pitch |
|
5.45 mm |
4.7 mm |
2.35 mm |
12.7 mm |
2.54 mm |
