8
LT3012B
3012bf
The LT3012B is a 250mA high voltage low dropout regu-
lator with micropower quiescent current. The device is
capable of supplying 250mA at a dropout voltage of
400mV. Operating quiescent current is only 40µA. In
addition to the low quiescent current, the LT3012B incor-
porates several protection features which make it ideal for
use in battery-powered systems. The device is protected
against both reverse input and reverse output voltages. In
battery backup applications where the output can be held
up by a backup battery when the input is pulled to ground,
the LT3012B acts like it has a diode in series with its output
and prevents reverse current flow.
Adjustable Operation
The LT3012B has an output voltage range of 1.24V to
60V. The output voltage is set by the ratio of two external
resistors as shown in Figure 1. The device servos the
output to maintain the voltage at the adjust pin at 1.24V
referenced to ground. The current in R1 is then equal to
1.24V/R1 and the current in R2 is the current in R1 plus
the ADJ pin bias current. The ADJ pin bias current, 30nA
at 25°C, flows through R2 into the ADJ pin. The output
voltage can be calculated using the formula in Figure 1.
The value of R1 should be less than 250k to minimize
errors in the output voltage caused by the ADJ pin bias
current.
The adjustable device is tested and specified with the ADJ
pin tied to the OUT pin and a 5µA DC load (unless otherwise
specified) for an output voltage of 1.24V. Specifications
for output voltages greater than 1.24V will be proportional
APPLICATIO S I FOR ATIO
WUUU
Figure 1. Adjustable Operation
to the ratio of the desired output voltage to 1.24V; (V
OUT
/
1.24V). For example, load regulation for an output current
change of 1mA to 250mA is –7mV typical at V
OUT
= 1.24V.
At V
OUT
= 12V, load regulation is:
(12V/1.24V) • (–7mV) = –68mV
Output Capacitance and Transient Response
The LT3012B is designed to be stable with a wide range of
output capacitors. The ESR of the output capacitor affects
stability, most notably with small capacitors. A minimum
output capacitor of 3.3µF with an ESR of 3Ω or less is
recommended to prevent oscillations. The LT3012B is a
micropower device and output transient response will be
a function of output capacitance. Larger values of output
capacitance decrease the peak deviations and provide
improved transient response for larger load current
changes. Bypass capacitors, used to decouple individual
components powered by the LT3012B, will increase the
effective output capacitor value.
Extra consideration must be given to the use of ceramic
capacitors. Ceramic capacitors are manufactured with a
variety of dielectrics, each with different behavior across
temperature and applied voltage. The most common di-
electrics used are specified with EIA temperature charac-
teristic codes of Z5U, Y5V, X5R and X7R. The Z5U and Y5V
dielectrics are good for providing high capacitances in a
small package, but they tend to have strong voltage and
temperature coefficients as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
When used with a 5V regulator, a 16V 10µF Y5V capacitor
VIN
3012B F01
VOUT
R2 C1
R1
+
R2
R1
VOUT = 1.24V
VADJ = 1.24V
IADJ = 30nA AT 25°C
OUTPUT RANGE = 1.24V TO 60V
+ (IADJ)(R2)1 +
()
IN
LT3012B
OUT
ADJ
GND