L78L24ACZ-AP

L78L24ACZ-AP Application Field and Working Principle

Introduction

The L78L24ACZ-AP is an point-of-load (PoL) linear voltage regulator manufactured by STMicroelectronics for providing stable power thresholds for small electronic devices. This chip is generally implemented in integrated systems based on microcontrollers, DSPs, FPGAs and ASICs by improving the performance of systems running on low supply voltages. This L78L24ACZ-AP comes in an 8-pin plastic DIP Package with an operating temperature between 0℃ to 70℃ and is capable of delivering output current of up to 100mA.

Application Field

The L78L24ACZ-AP is mainly used in applications with primary power supplies of 3V to 15V. This chip is commonly used to convert variable voltage in direct current (DC) power supplies or provide low voltage stable DC power supplies. Some common applications of the L78L24ACZ-AP include temperature and pressure detection systems, digital signal processors (DSPs), electric meters, low power automotive electronics and battery powered equipment.

Working Principle

The L78L24ACZ-AP operates within the linear voltage regulator family, meaning that it regulates the input to output voltage by dissipating the excess energy as heat. This is the primary difference between linear and switching voltage regulators. Linear regulators are generally used in systems when the maximum output current required is below 100mA.The L78L24ACZ-AP uses a three-terminal configuration excluding the common ground. The first terminal is the input voltage which is fed to the device. This voltage is then processed by the electrical circuit as shown by the device\'s data sheet. The processed voltage is then passed to the output terminal, whose value is determined by the value of the adjustable output voltage. The third terminal is then used to adjust the output voltage.

Advantages

The L78L24ACZ-AP has several advantages over switch-mode regulators. The first advantage is its excellent efficiency, as the relatively low dropout voltage leads to low power dissipation, thus eliminating the need for a heatsink in majority of applications. In addition, compared to switch-mode regulators, the output noise of linear regulators is much lower, making them suitable for applications where noise cannot be tolerated. Lastly, the compact, easy-to-use package of the L78L24ACZ-AP allows it to be readily integrated into applications with limited board space.

Conclusion

The L78L24ACZ-AP is a microelectronic device created to provide a stable power threshold for small electronic applications. It is mainly used for direct current (DC) power supplies or in order to convert variable voltage sources. This chip is part of the linear voltage regulator family, meaning its main purpose is to reduce the input voltage to the output voltage by dissipating the excess energy as heat. It has several advantages compared to other voltage regulators, such as high efficiency, low noise, and a compact package.