Linear Technology adds the LT3086 to the LDO family of low dropout linear regulators.It offers, says the company, significant functionality previously unavailable in linear regulators. The 40V, 2.1A LDO includes current monitoring with externally settable current limit and temperature monitoring with external control of thermal limit temperature. It has a programmable power good status flag, cable drop compensation and easy paralleling. It also has a 1.4 to 40V input voltage range.

A single resistor programs output voltage from 0.4 to 32V and dropout voltage is just 330mV at 2.1A, while line and load regulation is 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 (40µV_RMS) remain independent of output voltage due to the device’s unity-gain voltage follower architecture.
 

Internal circuitry allows paralleling of multiple LDOs 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.

 

A variety of thermally enhanced surface mount packages are available, including a low profile (0.75mm) 16-lead 4x5mm DFN, a 16-lead thermally enhanced TSSOP and a seven-lead DD-Pak. All dissipate 2W in surface mount applications with no heat sink. It is also available in a seven-lead TO-220 power package for vertical mounting to heatsinks for higher power dissipation capability. E and I grades are specified with an operating junction temperature range of -40 to 125°C. The MP grade is specified with an operating junction temperature range of -55 to 125°C.