Linear's Surface Mount 3A LDO Easily Paralleled with no Hot Spots

Linear Technology Corporation announces the LT3083, a 3A LDO that can be paralleled for heat spreading and higher output current, and is adjustable with a single resistor. This regulator is based on the same innovative architecture as its 1.1A predecessor, the LT3080, which uses a current source reference for single resistor output voltage setting. With the SET pins tied together, sharing the current and spreading the heat is accomplished between multiple regulators using a small length of PC trace as ballast, enabling multi-amp linear regulation in all surface-mount systems without heat sinks. The LT3083 achieves unmatched regulation of under 2mV at any output voltage. Featuring wide input voltage range from 1.2V to 18V (DD-Pak and TO-220 packages), the full current dropout is only 310mV (when operating with a separate bias supply). The output voltage is programmable with a single resistor from 0V to 17.5V, and the on-chip trimmed 50μA current reference is trimmed to ±1%. The regulation and output noise (40μVrms) is independent of output voltage due to the device's voltage follower architecture. The high output current, wide VIN & VOUT capability, tight line and load regulation, high ripple rejection, low external parts count and paralleling capability make the LT3083 ideal for modern higher-current, multi-rail systems. According to Robert Dobkin, Linear Technology's Vice President, Engineering and CTO, "The LT3083 regulator provides designers with an all-surface-mount solution for high current, low ripple applications such as FPGAs, data communications or serial links. The device's separate collector pin minimizes power dissipation when generating additional voltages in multi-rail power systems." Summary of Features: LT3083

• Outputs May be Paralleled for Higher Output Current or Spreading PCB Heat
• Output Current: 3A
• Single-Resistor Programs Output Voltage
• ±1% Accurate 50μA SET Pin Current
• Wide VIN Range: 1.2V to 18V (DD-Pak and TO-220 Packages)
• Adjustable VOUT Range: 0V to 17.5V
• Low Noise: 40μVRMS (10Hz to 100kHz)
• Low Dropout Voltage: 310mV
• <1mV Load Regulation
• <0.001%/V Line Regulation
• Stable with Minimum 10uF Ceramic Capacitor
• Current Limit with Foldback & OverTemperature Protected
• Available in 16-Lead TSSOP, 12-Lead 4mm × 4mm DFN, 5-Lead TO-220 & 5-Lead Surface Mount DD-PAK Packages

The LT3083 is offered in a variety of thermally enhanced surface-mount compatible packages, including a low profile (0.75mm) 12-lead 4mm x 4mm DFN and a 16-lead, thermally enhanced TSSOP; both dissipate 2W in surface mount applications with no heat sink. The device is also available in 5-lead TO-220 and DD-Pak power packages for mounting to heat sinks for higher power dissipation. For more information, visit www.linear.com/3083