H-grade LDO adds significant functionality

The 40V, 2.1A Low Dropout linear regulator (LDO) includes current monitoring with externally settable current limit and temperature monitoring with external control of thermal limit temperature. The device includes a programmable power good status flag, cable drop compensation and easy paralleling. The current reference in the LT308x LDO family provides regulation, independent of output voltage.

Featuring a 1.4V to 40V input voltage range, a single resistor programs output voltage from 0.4V to 32V and dropout voltage is only 330mV at 2.1A. The LT3086 achieves line and load regulation of 0.1%, independent of output voltage. The trimmed, precision 50µA current reference is ±1% accurate, providing ±2% output voltage tolerance over line, load and temperature. Output voltage regulation, bandwidth, transient response and noise (40µVRMS) remain independent of output voltage due to the device’s unity gain voltage follower architecture.

Unique internal circuitry allows paralleling of multiple LT3086s for higher load current and heat spreading without needing external ballast resistors. Programmable cable drop compensation cancels regulation errors caused by line drops to the load.

Output current and temperature monitoring, in addition to a power good flag with programmable threshold, provide system monitoring and diagnostic/debug capability. Internal fault circuitry includes thermal shutdown and current limit with foldback.

Thermal limit and current limit are externally programmable. The device’s reverse-battery and reverse-current protection add robustness to the end design.

The LT3086HFE adjustable output version is offered in the thermally enhanced TSSOP surface mount package, specified with an operating junction temperature range of -40 to 150°C. Devices are available from stock and 1,000-piece pricing starts at $3.70 each.