ADR280
–5–
The ADR280 provides the core 1.2 V band gap voltage and is
able to drive a maximum load of only 100 μA. Users can simply
buffer the output for high current or sink/source current applica-
tions, such as ADC or LCD driver references (see Figure 5).
V+
V
OUT
0.1
F
0.1
F
V–
ADR280
V
OUT
U1
U2
U2 = AD8541, SC70
AD8601, SOT-23-5
Figure 5. Buffered Output
Users can also tailor any specific need for voltage and dynamics
with an external op amp and discrete components (see Figure 5).
Depending on the specific op amp and PCB layout, it may be
necessary to add a compensation capacitor, C2, to prevent gain
peaking and oscillation. The exact value of C2 needed requires
some trial and error but usually falls in the range of a few pF.
V+
V
OUT
0.1
F
V–
ADR280
U1
5V
5V
1.2V
U2
1.8V
R1
R2
60k
0.1%
120k
0.1%
C2
2.2pF
V+
V–
AD8541
V
O
C1
Figure 6. 1.8 V Reference
LOW COST, LOW POWER CURRENT SOURCE
Because of its low power characteristics, the ADR280 can be
converted to a current source with just a setting resistor. In addi-
tion to the ADR280 current capability, the supply voltage and the
load limit the maximum current. The circuit in Figure 7 produces
100 μA with 2 V compliance at 5 V supply. The load current is
the sum of I
SET
and I
GND
. I
GND
will increase slightly with load; an
R
SET
of 13.6 k
yields 100 μA of load current.
V+
V
OUT
0.1
F
V–
ADR280
U1
5V
1.2V
13.6k
C1
R
SET
RL
1k
I
L
100
A
I
GND
I
L
= I
SET
+ I
GND
I
SET
+
–
Figure 7. Low Cost Current Source
Precision Low Power Current Source
By adding a buffer to redirect the I
GND
in Figure 8, a current can
be precisely set by R
SET
with the equation I
L
= 1.2 V/R
SET
.
V+
V
OUT
0.1
F
V–
ADR280
U1
5V
C2
R
SET
RL
1k
I
100
A
I
L
= 1.2V/R
SET
V+
V–
5V
U2
12k
AD8541
Figure 8. Precision Low Power Current Source
Boosted Current Source
Adding one more buffer to the previous circuit boosts the current
to the level that is limited only by the buffer U2 current handling
capability (see Figure 9).
V+
V
OUT
0.1
F
V–
ADR280
U1
5V
C1
R
SET
230
RL
500
I
L
5mA
I
L
= 1.2V/R
SET
U2 = U3 = AD8542, AD822
V+
V–
5V
U3
V+
V–
5V
U2
1–
+
Figure 9. Precision Current Source
REV. A