LDOs are tailored to diverse application needs

There seems to be no end to the variety of low dropout regulators that designers need and vendors offer, now enhanced by Micrel's MIC3750X family, a trio of 5A LDOs in extra-tiny packages. Depending on device selected, you get 1.5-, 1.8-, or 2.5-V output from a minimum supply of 2.25 or 3.0V, in a low-profile S-pack housing that is 1/3 smaller and one-half the thickness of the available TO-263 package. All devices can drive high-capacitance loads, and are stable with a ceramic or tantalum output capacitor; dropout voltage is 500 mV. A logic-level input lets you enable the LDOs, which are protected against reverse battery and reverse current, and have current limit and thermal shutdown. Prices begin at US$3.94 (1000 pieces).


For higher-current applications, the MIC5159 IC delivers up to 10A when combined with an external, inexpensive p-channel MOSFET. This SOT23 device provides 1.5, 1.8. or 2.5V with dropout voltage limited only by the output current times the RDS(ON) of the MOSFET. A single ceramic capacitor provides output stability for this US$1.70 (1000 piece) LDO.


Micrel Semiconductor
Fax (82) 2-3466-2999
www.micrel.com