
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
+ 1.2V to + 25V ADJUSTABLE REGULATOR
APPLICATION HINTS
In operation, theLM350 develops a nominal 1.25V
reference voltage, V
(ref)
, between the output and
adjustment terminal. The reference voltage is im-
pressed across program resistor R1and, since the
voltage isconstant,a constant current I
1
then flows
through theoutput setresistor R2, givingan output
voltage of
( 1+R
2
R
1
) + I
adj
R
2
V
O
= V
(ref)
Figure 1.
Since the 50
μ
A current from the adjustment termi-
nal represents an error term, theLM350 was de-
signed to minimize I
adj
and make it very constant
with lineand loadchanges.Todothis, allquiescent
operating current is returned to the output establi-
shing a minimumloadcurrent requirement. If there
is insufficientloadontheoutput,theoutputwill rise.
EXTERNAL CAPACITORS
An input bypass capacitor is recommended. A
0.1
μ
F disc or1
μ
Fsolid tantalumontheinputis suit-
able input by passing for almost all applications.
Thedeviceismore sensitivetotheabsenceofinput
bypassing when adjustment or output capacitors
are used byt the above values will eliminate the
possibility of problems.
The adjustment terminal can be bypassed to
ground on the LM350 to improve ripple rejection.
This bypass capacitor prevents ripple form being
amplified as the output voltage is increased. With
a 10
μ
F bypass capacitor 75dB ripple rejection is
obtainable atanyoutputlevel.Increases over20
μ
F
do not appreciably improve the ripple rejection at
frequencies above 120Hz. If the bypass capacitor
is used, it is sometimes necessary to include pro-
tection diodes to prevent the capacitor from dis-
charging through internal low current paths and
damaging the device.
In general, the best type of capacitors to use are
solid tantalum. Solid tantalum capacitors have low
impedance even at high frequencies. Depending
upon capacitorconstruction, it takes about 25
μ
F in
aluminum electrolyticto equal1
μ
Fsolidtantalumat
high frequencies. Ceramic capacitors are also
good at high frequencies, but some types have a
large decrease in capacitance at frequencies
around 0.5MHz. For this reason, 0.01
μ
F disc may
seem towork better than a 0.1
μ
F discas a bypass.
Although the LM350 is stable with no output capa-
citors, like any feedback circuit, certain values of
external capacitance can cause excessiveringing.
This occurs with values between 500pF and
5000pF. A 1
μ
F solid tantalum (or 25
μ
F aluminium
electrolytic) on the output swamps this effect and
insures stability.
LOADREGULATION
The LM350is capable ofproviding extremely good
load regulation but a few precautions are needed
to obtain maximum performance. The current set
resistor connected between the adjustment termi-
nal and the output terminal (usually 240
) should
be tied directly to the output of the regulator rather
than near the load. This eliminates line drops from
appearing effectively in series with the reference
and degrading regulation. For example, a 15V
regulator with 0.05
resistance between theregu-
lator and loadwillhave aloadregulation due toline
resistance of 0.05
x I
L
. If the set resistor is con-
nected near the load the effective line resistance
Needed if device is far from filter capacitors.
* Optional-improves transient response. Output capacitors in the
range of 1
μ
F to 100
μ
F of aluminium or tantalum electrolytic are
commonly used toprovide improved output impedance and rejec-
tion of transients.
R2
* * V
O
= 1.25V (1 +
)
R1
* * *
R1 = 240
for LM150 and LM250
LM350
LM350
LM150-LM250-LM350
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