The rugged 800mA wide input voltage range linear regulator with key usability, monitoring and protection features can be used for high input-to-output voltage and high output current applications where older regulators limit the output, says the company.

It uses a current source reference for single resistor output voltage settings and output adjustability down to 0V. Output current limit can be set externally with a single resistor. This regulator architecture, combined with low mV line and load regulation, enables multiple ICs to be paralleled easily for heat spreading and higher output current. The current from the device’s current monitor can be summed with the set current for line-drop compensation, where the output increases its current to compensate for line drops.

The regulator achieves line and load regulation of under 2mV, independent of output voltage, and features an input voltage range from 1.2 to 36V. The device fits in applications requiring multiple rails, says the company. Output voltage is programmable with a single resistor from 0 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 (27µV_RMS) are independent of output voltage due to the device’s voltage follower architecture.

Configurable as a two-terminal current source using only two resistors, the regulator has input or output capacitors for stability in either linear regulator mode or current-source mode of operation.

Current limit can be programmed with a single resistor. Monitor outputs provide a current output proportional to temperature (1µA/°C) and output current (200µA/A), allowing easy ground-based measurement. The current monitor can be used to compensate for cable drops. The internal protection circuitry includes reverse input protection, reverse-current protection, internal current limiting and thermal shutdown.

A DD-Pak package for high power dissipation and various surface mount packages for lower power applications are available.

The LT3089 is offered in a variety of thermally enhanced surface-mount compatible packages, including a low profile (0.75mm) 12-lead 4.0 x 4.0mm DFN, a 16-lead thermally enhanced TSSOP and a seven-lead DD-Pak. All dissipate 2W in surface mount applications with no heatsink. Temperature grades are E and I (-40 to 125°C), H grade (-40 to 150°C) and the MP grade (-55 to 150°C).