Linear Technology Korea announced the release of a high-voltage, low-noise, low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator (product name: LT3066). According to Linear, this product offers precision, programmable current limiting, active discharge, a power good flag, and an enhanced power supply rejection ratio (PSRR). The company explained that the device provides a maximum output current of 500mA with a dropout voltage of 300mV at full load.

In addition, it was stated that the LT3066 integrates an NMOS pull-down function that discharges the output voltage when the SHDN pin is low or the input voltage is OFF, and that this fast active output discharge function supports protection of loads in applications requiring power conditions in both startup and shutdown functions, such as high-performance image sensors.



Active output discharge function for load protection

The LT3066 features a wide input voltage range of 1.8V to 45V, and the output voltage is adjustable within the range of 0.6V to 19V. A single REF/BYP pin capacitor provides low-noise operation of only 25µVRMS across a bandwidth of 10Hz to 100kHz, along with a reference soft-start function that prevents output voltage overshoot upon turn-on. Output voltage tolerance is very high, with an accuracy of ±2% across all line, load, and temperature conditions. The capacitor in the additionally applicable INFILT pin improves the PSRR characteristics by 15dB to 20dB in the frequency range of 20kHz to 1MHz and provides a 1MHz PSRR reaching up to 60dB.

The LT3066 operates with a very small, low-cost 3.3µF ceramic output capacitor and optimizes stability and transient response. The device's PWRGD flag indicates the output regulation status. External precision current limiting (±10% over the entire temperature range) is programmed using a single resistor. Furthermore, the device's internal protection circuitry includes reverse battery protection, reverse current protection, current limiting with foldback function, and thermal limiting.

The wide input and output voltage range of this device, fast transient response, and low standby current of less than 64µA during operation and less than 2µA during shutdown make it an excellent choice for industrial power supplies, aviation power supplies, automotive power supplies, battery-powered systems, instruments requiring optimal operating time, and high-reliability power supplies with extended protection features.

The LT3066 is available in thermally enhanced 12-pin 3mm x 4mm DFN and 12-pin MSOP packages and is provided in a compact footprint. Grade E and I versions are available with operating junction temperatures of -40°C to +125°C and are ready for immediate use. Grade E is priced at $2.00 per unit in 1,000-piece quantities.