In electronics, TO-18 is a designation for a style of transistor metal case. The case is more expensive than the similarly sized plastic TO-92 package. The name is from JEDEC, signifying Transistor Outline Package, Case Style 18.

Construction and orientation

The typical TO-18 metal can package has a base diameter of 5.6 mm, a cap diameter of 4.70 mm, a cap height of 4.83 mm. The tab is located 45° from pin 1, which is typically the emitter. The lead diameter is nominally 0.45 mm. The leads are arranged in a circle with a diameter of 2.54 mm. The minimum length of the leads is 12.7 mm. Different manufacturers have different tolerances, and the actual form factor may vary slightly, depending on function.

Uses and variants

The 3-lead TO-18 is used for transistors and other devices using no more than three leads. Variants for diodes, photodiodes and LEDs may have only two leads. Light-sensitive or light-emitting devices have a transparent window, lens, or parabolic reflectors in the top of the case rather than a sealed, flat top. For example, diode lasers such as those found in CD players may be packaged in TO-18 cases with a lens. There are variants with between 2 and 8 leads.

TO-46 / TO-52

The TO-46 and TO-52 packages have 3 leads. These packages differ from all other variants in the height of the cap. Instead of 4.83 mm the cap height is only 3.30 mm for TO-52 and 1.90 mm for TO-46.

TO-72

The package with 4 leads but otherwise with dimensions identical to TO-18, is standardized as TO-72. The fourth wire is typically connected to the metal case as a means of electromagnetic shielding for radio frequency applications.

TO-71

The TO-71 package has 8 leads (up to three of those may be omitted). The minimum angle between two adjacent leads is 45°.

TO-206

TO-206 is intended to replace previous definitions of packages with leads arranged in a circle with a diameter of 2.54 mm. The different outlines are now defined as variants of TO-206: TO-18 is renamed to TO-206-AA, TO-46 to TO-206-AB, TO-52 to TO-206-AC, TO-72 to TO-206-AF. A new package with 3 leads and a cap height of 1.40 mm (i.e. smaller than TO-46) is added as TO-206-AD. TO-206-AE does not require a minimum diameter of the leads but is otherwise identical to TO-18. The somewhat unrelated TO-58 package is included as TO-206-AG.

National standards