LT3013B
APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
The LT3013B is a 250mA high voltage low dropout regulator
with micropower quiescent current. The device is capable
of supplying 250mA at a dropout voltage of 400mV. Op-
erating quiescent current is only 65μA. In addition to the
low quiescent current, the LT3013B incorporates several
protection features which make it ideal for use in bat-
tery-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
LT3013B acts like it has a diode in series with its output
and prevents reverse current flow.
Adjustable Operation
The LT3013B has an output voltage range of 1.24V to 60V.
The output voltage is set by the ratio of two external resis-
tors 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 to
the ratio of the desired output voltage to 1.24V; (VOUT/
1.24V). For example, load regulation for an output current
change of 1mA to 250mA is –7mV typical at VOUT = 1.24V.
At VOUT = 12V, load regulation is:
(12V/1.24V) • (–7mV) = –68mV
Output Capacitance and Transient Response
The LT3013B 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 LT3013B 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 LT3013B, 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
dielectrics used are specified with EIA temperature char-
acteristic 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
IN OUT
LT3013B
VIN
ADJ
GND
R2 +
VOUT
R1
3013 F01