Linear Technology Corp. recently announced the LT3088, a 800mA wide input voltage range linear regulator. The device has an extended safe operating area (SOA) compared to existing regulators, making it suitable for high input-to-output voltage and high output current applications where older regulators limit the output.
The LT3088 uses a current source reference for single resistor output voltage settings and output adjustability down to 0. This regulator architecture, combined with low millivolt line and load regulation, enables multiple ICs to be paralleled easily for heat spreading and higher output current.
The LT3088 achieves line and load regulation of under 2mV independent of output voltage and features an input voltage range from 1.2V to 36V. Output voltage is programmable with a single resistor from 0V to 34.5V with a 1.2V dropout. The on-chip trimmed 50µA current reference is ±1% accurate. The regulation, transient response and output noise (27µVRMS) are independent of output voltage due to the device's voltage follower architecture.
The LT3088 is easily configurable as a 3-terminal regulator, its SOT-223 and DD-Pak packages matching industry-standard pinouts such as the LT1117, but with superior performance. Input or output capacitors for stability are optional in either linear regulator mode or current-source mode of operation. The LT3088's internal protection circuitry includes reverse-input protection, reverse-current protection, internal current limiting and thermal shutdown.
The LT3088 is offered in a variety of thermally enhanced surface mount compatible packages, including a low profile (0.75mm) 8-lead 3mm x 3mm DFN, a 3-lead SOT-223 and a 3-lead DD-Pak, allowing power dissipation up to 2W in surface mount applications with no heat sink. A wide variety of grades/temperature ranges are offered including: E and I grades -40°C to 125°C, high reliability H grade -40°C to 150°C and the military MP grade -55°C to 150°C. 1,000-piece pricing starts at $1.95 each for the E grade.
