MC7810ECT

MC7810ECT Application Field and Working Principle

The MC7810ECT is a three-terminal linear voltage regulator designed as an adjustable average current regulator. It is part of the Linear Voltage Regulators category of the Power Management and Supplies (PMIC) sector.

This low dropout linear regulator offers exceptional reliability and noise protection for many applications, including general industrial and telecom applications, computer systems, and instrumentation. It provides greater than 1.8-V output up to 30 mA with a dropout voltage of less than 500 mV. This output is proportional to the external current control voltage.

The MC7810ECT voltage regulator is made up of five blocks:

• Voltage reference
• Error amplifier
• Current limiter
• Transconductance amplifier
• Output driver with E/A feedback loop

The voltage reference is the heart of the voltage regulator. It is used to supply a fixed output voltage that is guaranteed to be within +2% accuracy. The error amplifier compares the reference voltage to the output voltage and produces an output. This output is compared to the current limit setpoint, which is generated by the current limit control input. Voltage limit is then reached if the output current is higher than the current limit input setting.

The transconductance amplifier is a three-stage transconductance amplifier and it controls the voltage required to drive the output. The output driver is responsible for driving the output devices and regulating its own power supply. Both the output driver and the transistor are designed to limit the output current to the values set by the current limit control input. The feedback loop is used to maintain a constant reference voltage by regulating the voltage required to drive the output.

This MC7810ECT voltage regulator is designed with a number of features to meet the needs of many applications. Its input voltage range is wide and can be used with a voltage supply range of 4.5 V to 30 V. It has a very low quiescent current of less than 400 μA. Its operating temperature range is -40°C to +125°C and its maximum power dissipation is 500 mW. It features protection from reverse current, thermal shutdown protection and fast start-up.

To conclude, the MC7810ECT is an adjustable average current linear voltage regulator ideal for many applications. It is reliable and has a wide input voltage range, low quiescent current, and features thermal and reverse current protection.