LT138A/LT338A LM138/LM338 5A Positive Adjustable Voltage Regulator FEATURES

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DESCRIPTION
The LT138A series of adjustable regulators provide 5A output current over an output voltage range of 1.2V to 32V. The internal voltage reference is trimmed to less than 1%, enabling a very tight output voltage. In addition to excellent line and load regulation, with full overload protection, the LT138A incorporates new current limiting circuitry allowing large transient load currents to be handled for short periods. Transient load currents of up to 12A can be supplied without limiting, eliminating the need for a large output capacitor. The LT138A is an improved version of the popular LM138 with improved circuit design and advanced process techniques to provide superior performance and reliability. The graph below shows the signicant improvement in output voltage tolerance achieved by using the LT138A or LT338A.
L, LT, LTC and LTM are registered trademarks of Linear Technology Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Guaranteed 1% Initial Tolerance Guaranteed 0.3% Load Regulation Guaranteed 5A Output Current 100% Thermal Limit Burn-In 12A Transient Output Current

APPLICATIONS
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High Power Linear Regulator Battery Chargers Power Driver Constant-Current Regulator

TYPICAL APPLICATION
Parallel Regulators for Higher Current*
12 LT338A VIN VIN ADJ VOUT 0.01 5V 8A 11 OUTPUT VOLTAGE ERROR (%) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
138/338 TA01

Output Voltage Error

2% RESISTORS 1% RESISTORS

LM338 LM338 LT338A

LT350A VIN ADJ VOUT

0.016** 121 1% 365 1%

2% RESISTORS LT338A 1% RESISTORS

10 OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V)

100
138A/338A TA02

*THIS CIRCUIT WILL NOT WORK WITH LM VERSION DEVICES **CURRENT SHARING RESISTORS DEGRADE REGULATION TO 1%

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LT138A/LT339A LM138/LM338 ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS

Power Dissipation .............................. Internally Limited Input-to-Output Voltage Differential ........................ 35V Operating Junction Temperature Range LT138A/LM138 ................................ 55C to 150C LT338A/LM338 ..................................... 0C to 125C
(Note 1)

Storage Temperature Range.................. 65C to 150C Lead Temperature (Soldering, 10 sec) ..................300C

PRECONDITIONING
100% Thermal Limit Burn-In

PIN CONFIGURATION
BOTTOM VIEW VIN 2 CASE IS OUTPUT 1 ADJ (GND*) K PACKAGE 2-LEAD TO-3 METAL CAN TJMAX = 150C, JA = 35C/W, JA = 1C/W (LT138A/LT138) TJMAX = 125C, JA = 35C/W, JA = 1C/W (LT338A/LT338) FRONT VIEW 3 2 1 P PACKAGE 3-LEAD PLASTIC TO-3P TJMAX = 125C, JA = 45C/W VIN VOUT ADJ

OBSOLETE PACKAGE

ORDER INFORMATION
LEAD FREE FINISH LM338P#PBF LEAD BASED FINISH LM338P TAPE AND REEL LM338P#TRPBF TAPE AND REEL LM338P#TR PART MARKING LM338P PART MARKING LM338P PACKAGE DESCRIPTION 3-Lead Plastic TO-3P PACKAGE DESCRIPTION 3-Lead Plastic TO-3P TEMPERATURE RANGE 0C to 125C TEMPERATURE RANGE 0C to 125C

Consult LTC Marketing for parts specied with wider operating temperature ranges. For more information on lead free part marking, go to: http://www.linear.com/leadfree/ For more information on tape and reel specications, go to: http://www.linear.com/tapeandreel/

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LT138A/LT338A LM138/LM338 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SYMBOL VREF PARAMETER Reference Voltage CONDITIONS IOUT = 10mA, TJ = 25C 3V (VIN VOUT) 35V, 10mA IOUT 5A, P 50W VOUT VIN VOUT VOUT Line Regulation Load Regulation 3V (VIN VOUT) 35V, (Note 3) 10mA IOUT 5A, (Note 3) VOUT 5V VOUT 5V VOUT 5V VOUT 5V Thermal Regulation Ripple Rejection 20ms Pulse VOUT = 10V, f = 120Hz CADJ = 0F CADJ = 10F 10mA IOUT 5A, 3V (VIN VOUT) 35V (VIN VOUT) = 35V (VIN VOUT) 10V DC 0.5ms Peak (VIN VOUT) = 30V, TJ = 25C VOUT Temp VOUT Time en JC Temperature Stability Long-Term Stability TA = 125C, 1000 Hours
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The denotes the specications which apply over the full operating temperature range, otherwise specications are at TA = 25C. (Note 2)
MIN 1.238 1.225 LT138A TYP 1.250 1.250 0.005 0.02 5 0.1 20 0.3 0.002 60 75 45 0.2 3.5 5 6 8 12 1 1 0.3 0.001 1 2 2 1 100 5 5 5 6 MAX 1.262 1.270 0.01 0.04 15 0.3 30 0.6 0.01 1.119 1.24 0.005 0.02 5 0.1 20 0.3 0.002 60 75 45 0.2 3.5 8 12 1 1 0.3 0.003 1 1 100 5 5 1.29 0.01 0.04 15 0.3 30 0.6 0.01 MIN LM138 TYP MAX UNITS V V %/V %/V mV % mV % %/W dB dB A A mA A A A % % % C/W

60

60

IADJ IADJ

Adjust Pin Current Adjust Pin Current Change Minimum Load Current

ISC

Current Limit

RMS Output Noise (% of VOUT) 10HZ f 10kHz Thermal Resistance Junction-to-Case K Package

The denotes the specications which apply over the full operating temperature range, otherwise specications are at TA = 25C.
SYMBOL VREF PARAMETER Reference Voltage CONDITIONS IOUT = 10mA 3V (VIN VOUT) 35V, 10mA IOUT 5A, P 50W VOUT VIN VOUT VOUT Line Regulation Load Regulation 3V (VIN VOUT) 35V, (Note 3) 10mA IOUT 5A, (Note 3) VOUT 5V VOUT 5V VOUT 5V VOUT 5V Thermal Regulation Ripple Rejection 20ms Pulse VOUT = 10V, f = 120Hz CADJ = 0F CADJ = 10F
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MIN 1.238 1.225

LT138A TYP 1.250 1.250 0.005 0.02 5 0.1 20 0.3 0.002 60 75

MAX 1.262 1.270 0.01 0.04 15 0.3 30 0.6 0.02

MIN 1.19

LM138 TYP 1.24 0.005 0.02 5 0.1 20 0.3 0.002 60 75

MAX 1.29 0.03 0.06 25 0.5 50 1 0.02

UNITS V V %/V %/V mV % mV % %/W dB dB

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60

60

LT138A/LT339A LM138/LM338 ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SYMBOL IADJ IADJ PARAMETER Adjust Pin Current Adjust Pin Current Change Minimum Load Current ISC Current Limit 10mA IOUT 5A, 3V (VIN VOUT) 35V (VIN VOUT) = 35V (VIN VOUT) 10V DC 0.5ms Peak (VIN VOUT) = 30V, TJ = 25C VOUT Temp VOUT Time en JC Temperature Stability Long-Term Stability TA = 125C, 1000 Hours
l

CONDITIONS
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MIN

LT138A TYP 45 0.2 3.5

MAX 100 5 10

MIN

LM138 TYP 45 0.2 3.5

MAX 100 5 10

UNITS A A mA A A A %

5 6

8 12 1 1 0.3 0.001 1 2 2 1

5 6

8 12 1 1 0.3 0.003 1 1

% % C/W

RMS Output Noise (% of VOUT) 10HZ f 10kHz Thermal Resistance Junction-to-Case K Package

Note 1: Stresses beyond those listed under Absolute Maximum Ratings may cause permanent damage to the device. Exposure to any Absolute Maximum Rating condition for extended periods may affect device reliability and lifetime. Note 2: Unless otherwise specied, these specications apply: VIN VOUT = 5V and IOUT = 2.5A. These specications are applicable for power dissipations up to 50W.

Note 3: See thermal regulation specications for changes in output voltage due to heating effects. Load and line regulation are measured at a constant junction temperature by low duty cycle pulse testing.

TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERSITICS

Load Regulation
0.2 OUTPUT VOLTAGE DEVIATION (%) 0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 75 50 25 INPUT-OUTPUT DIFFERENTIAL (V) VIN = 15V VOUT = 10V PRELOAD = 50mA IOUT = 3A IOUT = 5A 4

Dropout Voltage
VOUT = 100mV ADJUSTMENT CURRENT (A) 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 1 75 50 25 30 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 TEMPERATURE (C)
138/338 G02

Adjustment Current

3 IOUT = 5A IOUT = 3A 2 IOUT = 1A

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 TEMPERATURE (C)

138/338 G01

75

25

25 75 TEMPERATURE (C)

125
138A/338A G03

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LT138A/LT338A LM138/LM338 TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Temperature Stability
1.270 10

Output Impedance
VIN = 15V VOUT = 10V IOUT = 500mA CADJ = COUT = 0F 5

Minimum Operating Current

1.260

QUIESCENT CURRENT (mA)

REFERENCE VOLTAGE (V)

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE ()

4 TJ = 150C TJ = 25C 3 TJ = 55C

0.1

1.250

0.01 CADJ = COUT = 10F

1.240

0.001

1.230 50 25

0.0001 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 TEMPERATURE (C)

138A/338A G04

0 10 100 10k 1k FREQUENCY (Hz) 100k 1M 0 25 30 35 5 10 15 20 INPUT-OUTPUT DIFFERENTIAL (V) 40

138/338 G05

138A/338A G06

Ripple Rejection
100 CADJ = 10F 80 RIPPLE REJECTION (dB) CADJ = 0F 60 RIPPLE REJECTION (dB) 100

Ripple Rejection
80

Ripple Rejection
CADJ = 10F

60 CADJ = 0F 40

RIPPLE REJECTION (dB)

80

CADJ = 10F

70 CADJ = 0F 60

40 VIN VOUT = 5V IOUT = 500mA f = 120Hz TJ = 25C 0 5 20 15 10 25 OUTPUT VOLTAGE (V) 30 35

50

20

20

VIN = 15V VOUT = 10V IOUT = 0.2A 10 100 10k 1k FREQUENCY (Hz) 100k 1M

40

VIN = 15V VOUT = 10V f = 120Hz TCASE = 25C 0.1 1 OUTPUT CURRENT (A) 10
138/338 G09

138A/338A G07

138A/338A G08

Current Limit
16 PEAK CURRENT LIMIT DC CURRENT LIMIT TCASE = 25C OUTPUT CURRENT (A) PRELOAD = 0A 14 12

Current Limit
14 12 PRELOAD = 0A OUTPUT CURRENT (A) 10 8 6 4 2 VIN = 10V VOUT = 5V TCASE = 25C 1 TIME (ms)
138A/338A G11

Current Limit
PRELOAD CURRENT = 0 TCASE = 25C

OUTPUT CURRENT (A)

12

10 VIN VOUT = 10V 8 6 4 2 0 0.1 VIN VOUT = 15V VIN VOUT = 20V VIN VOUT = 30V

PRELOAD = 5A

PRELOAD = 5A 8

PRELOAD = 1A 4

20 10 30 INPUT-OUTPUT DIFFERENTIAL (V)

40

0 0.1

10

100

1 TIME (ms)

10

100
138A/338A G12

138A/338A G10

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LT138A/LT339A LM138/LM338 TYPICAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Line Transient Response
1.5 OUTPUT VOLTAGE DEVIATION (V) 1.0 0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 INPUT VOLTAGE CHANGE (V) 1.0 0.5 0 0 10 20 TIME (s) 30 40 COUT = 0 CADJ = 0 LOAD CURRENT (A) OUTPUT VOLTAGE DEVIATION (V) VOUT = 10V IOUT = 50mA TJ = 25C 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 6 4 2 0 0 10 20 TIME (s) 30 40
138A/338A G14

Load Transient Response

CL = 1F CADJ = 10F CL = 0 CADJ = 0

CL = 1F CL = 10F

VIN = 15V VOUT = 10V TCASE = 25C PRELOAD = 100mA

138A/338A G13

APPLICATIONS INFORMATION
General The LT138A develops a 1.25V reference voltage between the output and the adjustable terminal (see Figure 1). By placing a resistor, R1, between these two terminals, a constant current is caused to ow through R1 and down through R2 to set the overall output voltage. Normally this current is the specied minimum load current of 5mA or 10mA. Because IADJ is very small and constant when compared with the current through R1, it represents a small error and can usually be ignored. It is easily seen from the output voltage equation, that even if the resistors were of exact value, the accuracy of the output is limited by the accuracy of VREF. Earlier adjustable regulators had a reference tolerance of 4% which is dangerously close to the 5% supply tolerance required in many logic and analog systems. Further, even 1% resistors can drift 0.01%/C, adding additional error to the output voltage tolerance.
LT338A VIN VIN ADJ VOUT VREF R1 VOUT

For example, using 2% resistors and 4% tolerance for VREF, calculations will show that the expected range of a 5V regulator design would be 4.66V VOUT 5.36V or approximately 7%. If the same example were used for a 15V regulator, the expected tolerance would be 8%. With these results most applications required some method of trimming, usually a trim pot. This solution is both expensive and not conductive to volume production. One of the enhancements of Linear Technologys adjustable regulators over existing devices is the tightened initial tolerance of VREF. This allows relatively inexpensive 1% or 2% lm resistors to be used for R1 and R2 to set the output voltage within an acceptable tolerance. With a guaranteed 1% reference, a 5V power supply design, using 2% resistors, would have a worst-case manufacturing tolerance of 4%. If 1% resistors are used, the tolerance will drop to 2.5%. A plot of the worst-case output voltage tolerance as a function of resistor tolerance is shown on the front page of this data sheet. For convenience, a table of standard 1% resistor values is shown in Table 1.

IADJ 50A R2 VOUT = VREF 1 + R2 + IADJ R2 R1

( )

138A/338A F01

Figure 1. Basic Adjustable Regulator

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LT138A/LT338A LM138/LM338 APPLICATIONS INFORMATION

Table 1. 0.5% and 1% Standard Resistance Values
1.00 1.02 1.05 1.07 1.10 1.13 1.15 1.18 1.21 1.24 1.27 1.30 1.33 1.37 1.40 1.43 1.47 1.50 1.54 1.58 1.62 1.65 1.69 1.74 1.78 1.82 1.87 1.91 1.96 2.00 2.05 2.10 2.15 2.21 2.26 2.32 2.37 2.43 2.49 2.55 2.61 2.67 2.74 2.80 2.87 2.94 3.01 3.09 3.16 3.24 3.32 3.40 3.48 3.57 3.65 3.74 3.83 3.92 4.02 4.12 4.22 4.32 4.42 4.53 4.64 4.75 4.87 4.99 5.11 5.23 5.36 5.49 5.62 5.76 5.90 6.04 6.19 6.34 6.49 6.65 6.81 6.98 7.15 7.32 7.50 7.68 7.87 8.06 8.25 8.45 8.66 8.87 9.09 9.31 9.53 9.76
CADJ 10F R2 VIN VIN ADJ LT338A VOUT R1 NOT NEEDED VOUT

If a very large output capacitor is used, such as a 100F shown in Figure 2, the regulator could be damaged or destroyed if the input is accidentally shorted to ground or crowbarred, due to the output capacitor discharging into the output terminal of the regulator. To prevent this, a diode D1 as shown, is recommended to safely discharge the capacitor.
D1 1N4002

COUT 100F
138A/338A F02

Figure 2

Standard resistance values are obtained from the Decade Table by multiplying by multiples of 10. As an example, 1.21 can represent 1.21, 12.1, 121, 1.21k etc.

Load Regulation Because the LT138A is a three-terminal device, it is not possible to provide true remote load sensing. Load regulation will be limited by the resistance of the wire connecting the regulator to the load. The data sheet specication for load regulation is measured at the bottom of the package. Negative side sensing is a true Kelvin connection, with the bottom of the output divider returned to the negative side of the load. Although it may not be immediately obvious, best load regulation is obtained when the top of the resistor divider, R1, is connected directly to the case not to the load. This is illustrated in Figure 3. If R1 were connected to the load, the effective resistance between the regulator and the load would be: RP R2 + R1 ,RP = Parasitic Line Resistance R1

Bypass Capacitors Input bypassing using a 1F tantalum or 25f electrolytic is recommended when the input lter capacitors are more than 5 inches from the device. Improved ripple rejection (80dB) can be accomplished by adding a 10F capacitor from the ADJ pin to ground. Increasing the size of the capacitor to 20F will help ripple rejection at low output voltage since the reactance of this capacitor should be small compared to the voltage setting resistor, R2. For improved AC transient response and to prevent the possibility of oscillation due to unknown reactive load, a 1F capacitor is also recommended at the output. Because of their low impedance at high frequencies, the best type of capacitor to use is solid tantalum. Protection Diodes The LT138A/LT338A do not require a protection diode from the adjustment terminal to the output (see Figure 2). Improved internal circuitry eliminates the need for this diode when the adjustment pin is bypassed with a capacitor to improve ripple rejection.

Connected as shown, RP is not multiplied by the divider ratio. RP is about 0.004 per foot using 16 gauge wire. This translates to 4mV/ft at 1A load current, so it is important to keep the positive lead between regulator and load as short as possible, and use large wire or PC board traces.

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LT138A/LT339A LM138/LM338 APPLICATIONS INFORMATION

LT338A VIN VIN ADJ VOUT CONNECT R1 TO CASE R1 RL R2 CONNECT R2 TO LOAD
138A/338A F03

RP PARASITIC LINE RESISTANCE

Figure 3. Connections for Best Load Regulation

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
Improving Ripple Rejection
LT338A VIN

+
1F

VIN ADJ

VOUT

R1 121 1% R2 365 1%

5V

CL* 10F

*C1 IMPROVES RIPPLE REJECTION, XC SHOULD BE SMALL COMPARED TO R2

138A/338A TA03

1.2V to 25V Adjustable Regulator

LT338A VIN VIN ADJ VOUT R1 240 R2 5k VOUT

C1* 1F

C2** 1F

138A/338A TA04

*NEEDED IF DEVICE IS FAR FROM FILTER CAPACITORS **OPTIONAL, IMPROVES TRANSIENT RESPONSE

VOUT = 1.25V 1 + R2 R1

( )

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LT138A/LT338A LM138/LM338 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS

5V Regulator with Shutdown
LT338A VIN VIN VOUT ADJ 1F 1k TTL 1k 2N3904 365 1% 121 1% 5V

138A/338A TA05

Temperature Compensated Lead Acid Battery Charger

3A VIN ADJ LT338A VOUT 243 1% 10k 50 2N3906 2k 50k
138A/338A TA07

12V

Remote Sensing
LT338A VIN VIN ADJ VIN 7 25 121 6 1 8 365 100pF LM301A 3 2 RL VOUT RP (MAX DROP 300mV)

VOUT 5V

+
25 RETURN

RETURN

+
4

1k 5F

138A/338A TA06

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LT138A/LT339A LM138/LM338

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

10
VIN 310 300 Q1 Q26 200 Q6 Q15 Q14 1.6k Q21 C3 5pF Q18 Q10 Q16 Q8 Q11 Q12 Q13 C1 30pF Q17 2.4k 3 4.1k 10 12k 0.01 VOUT ADJ
138A/338A SS

310

190

50

5.6k

20k

Q23

Q24

Q27 120 Q28 D1

LT138A/LT338A

Q2 Q19 6.7k 12k

Q4

Q9

30k 4k 3k 12.4k Q22 16k Q25 Q20 130

Q5

400

160k

18k

D2

+ +

Q1 4.1k 5.1k C2 30pF

160

Q3

Q7

160k

180

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LT138A/LT338A LM138/LM338 PACKAGE DESCRIPTION

K Package 2-Lead TO-3 Metal Can
(Reference LTC DWG # 05-08-1310)
0.320 0.350 (8.13 8.89) 0.760 0.775 (19.30 19.69) 0.060 0.135 (1.524 3.429)

0.420 0.480 (10.67 12.19)

0.038 0.043 (0.965 1.09) 1.177 1.197 (29.90 30.40) 0.655 0.675 (16.64 17.15) 0.210 0.220 (5.33 5.59) 0.151 0.161 (3.86 4.09) DIA, 2PLCS 0.167 0.177 (4.24 4.49) R 0.067 0.077 (1.70 1.96) 0.490 0.510 (12.45 12.95) R

0.425 0.435 (10.80 11.05)

K2 (TO-3) 1098

OBSOLETE PACKAGE
P Package 3-Lead Plastic TO-3P (Similar to TO-247)
(Reference LTC DWG # 05-08-1450)
.560 (14.224) .325 (8.255) .275 (6.985) .620 .64O (15.75 16.26) .187 .207 (4.75 5.26) MOUNTING HOLE 18 22 .115 .145 (2.92 3.68) DIA .060 .080 (1.52 2.03)

.580 (14.732) .700 (17.780)

.830 .870 (21.08 22.10) .580 .6OO (14.73 15.24)

.170 .2OO (4.32 5.08) EJECTOR PIN MARKS .105 .125 (2.67 3.18) DIA

.098 (2.489) .124 (3.149)

3 7 .170 (4.32) MAX .780 .800 (19.81 20.32)

BOTTOM VIEW OF TO-3P HATCHED AREA IS SOLDER PLATED COPPER HEAT SINK

.042 .052 (1.07 1.32) .074 .084 (1.88 2.13)

.215 (5.46) BSC .113 .123 (2.87 3.12)

.087 .102 (2.21 2.59) .020 .040 (0.51 1.02)

P3 0801

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Information furnished by Linear Technology Corporation is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed for its use. Linear Technology Corporation makes no representation that the interconnection of its circuits as described herein will not infringe on existing patent rights.

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LT138A/LT339A LM138/LM338 TYPICAL APPLICATION

Lamp Flasher
LT338A 15V

Automatic Light Control

LT338A VIN VOUT ADJ 12V 1.2k

+
1F

VIN ADJ

VOUT 10F

OFF

12k

10F

1k 2N3904

12k

10F

138A/338A TA09

12k

138A/338A TA08

Protected High Current Lamp Driver

15V LT338A VOUT TTL OR CMOS ADJ VIN 12V 5A

10k

138A/338A TA10

RELATED PARTS
PART NUMBER LT1580 LT1581 LT1764 DESCRIPTION 7A Fast Transient Response Regulator with 0.7V Dropout 10A Fast Transient Response Regulator 3A Fast Transient Response Regulator COMMENTS Fixed Outputs, VIN Up to 30V For 3.3V to 2.xxV Applications For 3.3V to 2.xxV Applications Dropout Voltage 340mV, Low Noise: 40VRMS LT1083/LT1084/LT1085 3A/5A/7.5A Low Dropout Regulators

LT1584/LT1585/LT1587 7A/4.6A/3A Low Dropout Fast Transient Response Regulator For 1.2V to 3.3V Outputs from 5V

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12 Linear Technology Corporation

(408) 432-1900 FAX: (408) 434-0507

LT 0907 REV C PRINTED IN USA

1630 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035-7417

www.linear.com
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 1991