L78L12ACD

The L78L12ACD is a series of low-dropout (LDO) linear voltage regulators designed for use in a wide range of applications, from simple supply regulation to more advanced applications such as battery protection and current limiting. The series is available in both standard and logic-controlled packages and offers a variety of features including output current limiting and thermal protection.

Applications

The L78L12ACD voltage regulators are ideally suited for a variety of products, particularly those with space or power limitations. Typical applications include personal and automotive electronics, microprocessor-based systems, telecommunications and networking equipment, battery-powered systems, and power supplies with V_IN/V_OUT ratios greater than 3.

Working Principle

VDD, the output of the L78L12ACD, is regulated to a voltage referenced to ground by controlling the amount of current which is drawn from the pass transistor. The amplifier compares the feedback pin (VFB) voltage to an internally-generated voltage reference, and adjusts the drive on the pass transistor to achieve the desired output voltage. The amplifier operates with a gain of -3. A small error signal is developed between the output and feedback pins, and drives the pass transistor to correct it. This results in a stable output voltage.

Summary

The L78L12ACD is a family of voltage regulators designed for a wide range of applications. They are ideally suited for battery powered and space-limited products and can be used in microprocessor-based systems, automotive electronics, power supplies and various other applications. The regulators operate by controlling the amount of current drawn from a pass transistor and use a negative-feedback loop to regulate the output voltage. The devices offer a variety of features, including output current limiting and thermal protection.