Integrated circuit (IC) linear voltage regulators use an active pass element to reduce the input voltage to the regulated output voltage. Some devices use bipolar transistors and others use metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETS). The use of voltage-controlled sources enables IC linear voltage regulators to force a fixed voltage to appear at the output terminal. Control circuitry monitors the output voltage and adjusts the current source accordingly. Generally, the...
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Q & A on IC Linear Voltage Regulators
We asked our users for their input on IC Linear Voltage Regulators. Here are the results of 50 users familiar with IC Linear Voltage Regulators.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying AdviceDesign TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing IC linear voltage regulator design?
9 answers
SMT, low consumption equipments (mobile, GPS, IT)
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
MOSFET development
~Engineering, Other, Zrenjanin, Serbia-Montenegro
Smd technologies
~Engineering, Design, Accra, Ghana
Those requiring the lowest output capacitance.
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
Output timing control e.g. 50ms ~ 1s after availability of input voltage ? For digital products especially, may be.
~Engineering, Design, Singapore, Singapore
High frequency operating and one carhipe ( with coil) regulator
~Marcel M, Project Manager, Checy, France
Cell phones
~Engineering, Design, South portland, ME
Metrology
~Charles S, Student, Gainesville, FL
LDO
~Engineering, Consulting, Münchenstein, Switzerland
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative IC linear voltage regulators?
10 answers
NS, TI, Sanken, just to name a few.
~Engineering, Design, Singapore, Singapore
Fairchild semiconductor
~Engineering, Design, South portland, ME
Texas ; Linear Tech
~Marcel M, Project Manager, Checy, France
Maxim, LinearTech.
~Engineering, Consulting, Münchenstein, Switzerland
Analog devices
~Engineering, Design, Accra, Ghana
TI, LT, ST, MC
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
NS, Fairchild
~Engineering, Design, Budapest, Hungary
Ricoh, Torex
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
Maxim?
~Engineering, Other, Zrenjanin, Serbia-Montenegro
NXP
~Charles S, Student, Gainesville, FL
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the applications you have used IC linear voltage regulators for?
14 answers
Power supplies for intercoms, home videophones, generally for electronic equipments.
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
Power supply for:
- data logger
- micro controller
- op amp
~Somchai Boonyawanichgul, Design Engineer, Bangkok, THAILAND
Embedded control systems, laboratory power supply.
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
Audio equipment, TV, lots of DIY electronics...
~Engineering, Other, Zrenjanin, Serbia-Montenegro
H Frequency power transmitter for telemetry.
~Marcel M, Project Manager, Checy, France
Microcontroller voltage regulation.
~Charles S, Student, Gainesville, FL
Power supply for railroad repair equipment signal amp.
~Eddie D, Engineer, Arcola, IL
FPGA and IC - 0.9V to 5V up to 40A
~Engineer, HAIFA, Israel
Non-destructive testing equipment.
~Research & Development, Budapest, Hungary
Power Supply & DC/DC converter
~Engineering, Design, Singapore, Singapore
Mostly for aux.power supply
~Engineering, Design, Budapest, Hungary
Cell phone charging
~Engineering, Design, South portland, ME
Industrial
~Engineering, Consulting, Münchenstein, Switzerland
Robotics
~Engineering, Design, Accra, Ghana
Please share with us any “non-standard” applications that IC linear voltage regulators have been used for.
4 answers
Induction coil HF supply ( 500 TO 1MHz)
~Marcel M, Project Manager, Checy, France
For IC with adjustable output (voltage change by external control e.g. resistors), can be used for speed control for Fan to control temperature.
~Engineering, Design, Singapore, Singapore
For DDR memory of computers
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
As part of switching regulation.
~Engineering, Design, Budapest, Hungary
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to the incorrect usage of IC linear voltage regulators?
3 answers
Damage due to wrong application of power.
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
No pad is solder on CI
~Marcel M, Project Manager, Checy, France
Not change input and output terminals, but not always ! Bad power dimensioning of input.
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
FeaturesTop
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this product?
5 answers
Low heat dissipation over varying input voltage ranges, given the same output voltage.
~Engineering, Design, Accra, Ghana
Adjustable stable output with high bandwidth.
~Charles S, Student, Gainesville, FL
No external component required.
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
Minimum external devices.
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
Delay start for output?
~Engineering, Design, Singapore, Singapore
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of IC linear voltage regulators?
2 answers
Output capacitors lose their capacitance value at lower temperatures. ESR in capacitance affects stability.
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
Cooling and oscillation prevent (capacitors), protection against input voltage peaks.
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using IC linear voltage regulators?
3 answers
Max parameters (input voltage, current, power dissipation), protection - thermal and short circuit, low drop output voltage, temperature range, package and cooling.
~Radko Borsky, Technical Support, Prague, Czech Republic
Check the application notes, especially the external components required to avoid oscillatory behavior.
~Gerry D, Research & Development, Quezon City, Philippines
Learn what they do first
~Charles S, Student, Gainesville, FL
