L78(2014) View Datasheet(PDF) - STMicroelectronics

Part Name

Description

Manufacturer

L78
(Rev.:2014)

Positive voltage regulator ICs

STMicroelectronics 

Positive voltage regulator ICs

6

Application information

Application information

6.1

Design consideration

The L78 Series of fixed voltage regulators are designed with thermal overload protection

that shuts down the circuit when subjected to an excessive power overload condition,

internal short-circuit protection that limits the maximum current the circuit will pass, and

output transistor safe-area compensation that reduces the output short-circuit current as the

voltage across the pass transistor is increased. In many low current applications,

compensation capacitors are not required. However, it is recommended that the regulator

input be bypassed with capacitor if the regulator is connected to the power supply filter with

long lengths, or if the output load capacitance is large. An input bypass capacitor should be

selected to provide good high frequency characteristics to insure stable operation under all

load conditions. A 0.33 µF or larger tantalum, mylar or other capacitor having low internal

impedance at high frequencies should be chosen. The bypass capacitor should be mounted

with the shortest possible leads directly across the regulators input terminals. Normally good

construction techniques should be used to minimize ground loops and lead resistance drops

since the regulator has no external sense lead.

The addition of an operational amplifier allows adjustment to higher or intermediate values

while retaining regulation characteristics. The minimum voltage obtained with the

arrangement is 2 V greater than the regulator voltage.

The circuit of Figure 13 can be modified to provide supply protection against short circuit by

adding a short circuit sense resistor, RSC, and an additional PNP transistor. The current

sensing PNP must be able to handle the short circuit current of the three terminal regulator

Therefore a four ampere plastic power transistor is specified.

Figure 8. Fixed output regulator

1. Although no output capacitor is need for stability, it does improve transient response.

2. Required if regulator is located an appreciable distance from power supply filter.

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