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Application Note 2

August 1984
Performance Enhancement Techniques for
Three-Terminal Regulators
Jim Williams
Three terminal regulators provide a simple, effective solution to voltage regulation requirements. In many situations
the regulator can be used with no special considerations.
Some applications, however, require special techniques
to enhance the performance of the device.
Probably the most common modication involves extending the output current of regulators. Conceptually, the
simplest way to do this is by paralleling devices. In practice,
the voltage output tolerance of the regulators can cause
problems. Figure 1 shows a way to use two regulators to
achieve an output current equal to their sum. This circuit
capitalizes on the 1% output tolerance of the specied
regulators to achieve a simple paralleled conguration.
Both regulators sense from the same divider string and
the small value resistors provide ballast to account for the
slightly differing output voltages. This added impedance
degrades total circuit regulation to about 1%.

Figure 2 shows another way to extend current capability


in a regulator. Although this circuit is more complex than
Figure 1, it eliminates the ballasting resistors effects
and has a fast-acting logic-controlled shutdown feature.
Additionally, the current limit may be set to any desired
value. This circuit extends the 1A capacity of the LT1005
multifunction regulator to 12A, while retaining the LT1005s
enable feature and auxiliary 5V output. Q1, a booster
transistor, is servo-controlled by the LT1005, while Q2
senses the current dependent voltage across the 0.05
shunt. When the shunt voltage is large enough, Q2 comes
on, biasing Q3 and shutting down the regulator via the
LT1005s enable pin. The shunts value can be selected
for the desired current limit. The 100C thermo-switch
limits dissipation in Q1 during prolonged short circuits
by disabling the LT1005. It should be mounted on Q1s
heat sink.
L, LT, LTC, LTM, Linear Technology and the Linear logo are registered trademarks of Linear
Technology Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

0.01
VIN 6.5V

IN

LT1083
ADJ

5V
15A

OUT

UPDATE
The LT3080 and LT3083
are better for parallel operation

0.01
IN

LT1083
ADJ

OUT
121

100F

+
200F
AN02 F01

365

NOTE: THIS CIRCUIT


WILL NOT WORK WITH
LM-TYPE DEVICES

Figure 1

an2f

AN2-1

Application Note 2
Boosted regulator schemes of this type are often poorly
dynamically damped. Such improper loop compensation
results in large output transients for shifts in the load. In
particular, because Q1s common emitter conguration
has voltage gain, transients approaching the input voltage
are possible when the load drops out. Here, the 100F
capacitor damps Q1s tendency to overshoot, while the
20 value provides turn-off bias. The 250F unit maintains
Q1s emitter at DC. Figure 3 shows that this brute force
compensation works quite well. Normally the regulator
sees no load. When Trace A goes high, a 12A load (regulator output current is Trace C) is placed across the output
terminals. The regulator output voltage recovers quickly,
with minimal aberration.

While the 100F output capacitor aids stability, it prevents


the regulator output from dropping quickly when the enable
command is given. Because Q1 cannot sink current, the
100F units discharge time is load limited. Q4 corrects
this problem, even when there is no load. When the enable
command is given (Trace A, Figure 4) Q3 comes on, cutting off the LT1005 and forcing Q1 off. Simultaneously, Q4
comes on, pulling down the regulator output (Trace B), and
sinks the 100F capacitors discharge current (Trace C). If
fast turn-off is not needed, Q4 may be omitted.

250F

+
0.05*

8.5 MIN
INPUT

Q1
2N4398
(HEAT SINK)

+
1k

20

0.05

100F

OUTPUT
5V
12A

Q2
2N2907
IN

OUT
LT1005
GND
AUXILIARY
ENABLE

Q4
2N6387

10k
10k

ENABLE
LO

10k

Q3
2N2222

1k

100C N.0.
THERMO-SWITCH
ON HEAT SINK

1k

*SELECT FOR I LIMIT = 12A

AN02 F02

Figure 2

A = 10V/DIV

A = 10V/DIV
B = 2V/DIV

B = 0.5V/DIV
AC-COUPLED

C = 5A/DIV

C = 2A/DIV

HORIZONTAL = 10s/DIV

Figure 3

AN02 F03

HORIZONTAL = 100s/DIV

AN02 F04

Figure 4

an2f

AN2-2

Application Note 2
Power dissipation control is another area where regulators
can be helped by additional circuitry. Increasing heat sink
area can be used to offset dissipation problems, but is a
wasteful and inefcient approach. Instead, the regulator can
be placed within a switched-mode loop that servo-controls
the voltage across the regulator. In this arrangement the
regulator functions normally while the switched-mode control loop maintains the voltage across it at a minimal value,
regardless of line or load changes. Although this approach
is not quite as efcient as a classical switching regulator,
it offers lower noise and the fast transient response of
the linear regulator. Figure 5 details a DC driven version

of the circuit. The LT350A functions in the conventional


fashion, supplying a regulated output at 3A capacity. The
remaining components form the switched-mode dissipation limiting control. This loop forces the potential across
the LT350A to equal the 3.7V value of VZ. When the input
of the regulator (Trace A, Figure 6) decays far enough, the
LT1018 output (Trace B) switches low, turning on Q1 (Q1
collector is Trace D). This allows current ow (Trace C)
from the circuit input into the 4500F capacitor, raising
the regulators input voltage. When the regulator input
rises far enough, the comparator goes high, Q1 cuts off
and the capacitor ceases charging.

2.2k
VZ

Q1
2N6667

1MHY

28V
INPUT
10k

IN

1N4003

4500

LT350A
ADJ

LT1004
1.2
VZ

68pF

1M
28V

OUTPUT

OUT
240*

2.0k

10k

LT1004
2.5

UPDATE
The LT3083 allows adjustment
to zero. Various single chip
switching regulators can be used

15k

1k

10k

LT1018

15k

*1% FILM RESISTOR


1MHY = DALE TD-5 TYPE

AN02 F05

Figure 5

A = 100mV/DIV
AC-COUPLED ON
15.7V DC LEVEL
B = 50V/DIV
C = 4A/DIV

D = 20V/DIV
HORIZONTAL = 100s/DIV

AN02 F06

Figure 6

an2f

AN2-3

Application Note 2
The 1N4003 damps the yback spike of the current-limiting inductor. The 4.7k unit ensures circuit start-up and
the 68pF-1M combination sets loop hysteresis at about
80mVP-P . This free-running oscillation control mode
substantially reduces dissipation in the regulator, while
preserving its performance. Despite changes in the input
voltage, different regulated outputs or load shifts, the
loop always ensures the minimum possible dissipation
in the regulator.

Figure 7 shows the dissipation limiting technique applied


in a more sophisticated circuit. The AC-powered version
provides 0V-35V, 10A regulation under high line-low line
(90VAC-140VAC) conditions with good efciency. In this
version, two SCRs and a center-tapped transformer source
power to the inductor-capacitor combination. The transformer output is also diode rectied (Trace A, Figure 8),
divided down, and used to reset the 0.1F unit (Trace B)

VZ

STANCOR
P-8675

1MHY
1N4003

20
3

110AC

20

t
t

LT1038 OR
LT1083

750*

10,000F

LT1004
1.2

T1

20k

VZ

LT1004
2.5

2.7k
15V
LT1004
1.2V

1N4003

15V

82k

16k*

1k

1F

100F

1N4003

0V-35V
0A-10A
(7.5A FOR LT1083)

15V
2

C1
LT1011

10k

15V

11k*

200k
7
1

0.1

*1% FILM RESISTOR


T1 = SPRAGUE 11Z-2003
SCRs = G.E. C-220B
1MHY = DALE TD-5 TYPE

15V
15k
15V
2N3904

1N4148

100pF

15V

15V

C2
LT1011
1

UPDATE
Paralled LT3083s allow
adjustment to zero
without the LT1004

15V
1
15k

10k

A1
LM301A

16k*

1F

11k*

15V
15V

AN02 F07

Figure 7

an2f

AN2-4

Application Note 2
(3.7V). As a result, the circuit functions over all line, load
and output voltage conditions with good efciency. The
1.2V LT1004 at the LT1038 allows the output voltage to
be set down to 0.00 and the 2N3904 clamp at A1 prevents
loop hang-up. Figure 7A shows a way to trigger the SCRs
without using a transformer.

via C1. The resulting AC line synchronous ramp at C1s


output is compared to A1s offset output by C2. A1s output
represents the deviation from the VZ value that the loop is
trying to force across the LT1038. When the ramp output
exceeds C2s + input value, C2 pulls low, dumping current
through T1s primary (Trace C). This res the appropriate
SCR and a path from the main transformer to the LC pair
occurs (Trace D). The resultant current ow (Trace E) is
limited by the inductor and charges the capacitor. When
the AC line cycle drops low enough, the SCR commutates
and charging ceases. On the next half cycle the process
repeats, except that the alternate SCR does the work. In
this fashion, the loop controls the phase angle at which
the SCRs re to keep the voltage across the LT1038 at VZ

Although A1s output is an analog voltage, the AC-driven


nature of the circuit makes it approximate a smoothed,
sample loop response. Conversely, the regulator constitutes a true linear system. Because these two feedback
systems are interlocked, frequency compensation can
be difcult.

1N4148
20

TO
SCR
GATES

TO 10k-15k JUNCTION
FROM A1 OUTPUT

10,000F

20

15V
3

10k

1MHY

15V
0.68

10k
C2

2N2219

TO
C1 OUTPUT

1N4148
AN02 F07A

Figure 7A

A = 50V/DIV
B = 10V/DIV
C = 100mA/DIV
D = 50V/DIV
E = 10A/DIV
HORIZONTAL = 2ms/DIV

AN02 F08

Figure 8

an2f

AN2-5

Application Note 2
In practice, A1s 1F capacitor keeps dissipation loop
gain at a low enough frequency for stable characteristics,
without inuencing the LT1038s transient response characteristic. Trace A, Figure 9 shows the output noise while
the circuit is operating at 35V into a 10A load (350W). Note
the absence of fast switching transients and harmonics.
The output noise is made up of residual 120Hz ripple and
regulator noise. Reected noise into the AC power line is
also negligible (Trace B) because the inductor limits current rise time to about 1ms, much slower than the normal
switching supplies. Figure 10 shows a plot of efciency
versus output voltage for a 10A load. At low output voltages, where the static losses across the regulator and SCRs
are signicant, efciency suffers, but 85% is attained at
the upper extreme.

High voltage output is another area for regulator enhancement. In theory, because the regulator does not have a
ground pin, it can regulate high voltages. In normal operation the regulator oats at the supplys upper level, and as
long as the VINVOUT maximum differential is not exceeded
there are no problems. However, if the output is shorted,
the VINVOUT maximum is exceeded and device destruction will occur. The circuit of Figure 11 shows a complete
high voltage regulator that delivers 100V at 100mA and
withstands shorts to ground. Even at 100V output the
LT317A functions in the normal mode, maintaining 1.2V
between its output and adjustment pin.

100
P = 300W

90

P = 200W

80
EFFICIENCY (%)

10mV/DIV
AC-COUPLED
ON 35V OUTPUT

70

P = 100W

60
P = 50W

50
40
30
20

200V/DIV

P = 10W

10

LOAD CURRENT = 10A


FOR ALL CONDITIONS

0
5

15
20
10
OUTPUT VOLTAGE

AN02 F09

HORIZONTAL = 2ms/DIV

30

25

AN02 F10

Figure 9

TRIAD
N-48X

Figure 10

1N4004
100V
OUTPUT

1N4004

120V
115AC

IN

+
500F

LT317AT
ADJ

OUT
10

Q1
2N6533

0.02F
1N4148

UPDATE
Newer regulators such as
the LT3080 and LT3081
allow adjustment to zero

500pF

1N3031
30V

2k
5W

332
1k
OUTPUT
ADJ
25.5k

AN02 F11

Figure 11

an2f

AN2-6

Application Note 2
Under these conditions the 30V Zener is off and Q1 conducts. When an output short occurs, the Zener conducts,
forcing Q1s base to 30V. This causes Q1s emitter to clamp
2 VBEs below VZ, well within the VINVOUT rating of the
regulator. Under these conditions, Q1, a high voltage device,
sustains 90V VCE at whatever current the transformer and
the regulators current limit will support. The transformer
specied saturates at 130mA, keeping Q1 well within its
safe area as it dissipates 12W. If Q1 and the LT317A are
thermally coupled, the regulator will soon go into thermal
shutdown and oscillation will commence. This action will
continue, protecting the load and the regulator as long as
the output remains shorted. the 500pF capacitor and the
10-0.02F damper aid transient response and the diodes
provide safe discharge paths for the capacitors.
This approach to high voltage regulation is primarily limited by the power dissipation capability of the device in
series with the regulator. Figure 11A uses a vacuum tube
(remember them?) to achieve very high short-circuit dissipation capability. The tube allows high voltage operation
and is extremely tolerant of overloads. This circuit allows
the LT317A to control 600W at 2000V (V1s plate limit is
300mA) with full short-circuit protection.

75-TH
EIMAC

Power is not the only area in which regulator performance


can be augmented. Figure 12 shows a way to increase the
stability of a regulators output over time and temperature.
This is particularly useful in powering strain gauge-based
transducers. In this circuit the output voltage is divided
down and compared to the 2.5V reference by A1, a precision
amplier. A1s output is used to force the LT317As adjustment pin to whatever voltage is required to maintain the
10V output. A1 contributes negligible error. The resistors
specied will track within 5ppm/C and the reference contributes about 20ppm/C. The regulators internal circuitry
protects against short circuits and thermal overload.
Figure 13s circuit allows a regulator to remotely sense the
feedback voltage, eliminating the effects of voltage drop
in the supply lines. This is a concern where high currents
must be transmitted over relatively long supply rails or PC
traces. Figure 13s circuit uses A1 to sense the voltage at
the point of load. A1s output, summed with the regulators
output, modies the adjustment pin voltage to compensate
for the voltage lost across RDROP . The feedback divider is
returned through a separate lead from the load, completing the remote sensing scheme. The 5F capacitor lters
noise and the 1k value limits bypass capacitor discharge
when power is turned off.

FILIMENT
V1

2500V
IN
180k
50W

LT317AT
ADJ

OUTPUT
2000V

OUT

VIN

IN

LT317AH
ADJ

OUTPUT
10V

OUT
2k

1.2k

1N3031

2k

A1
LT1001

500k
OUTPUT
TRIM

UPDATE
The LT3085 will allow
VOUT to go to zero

1.8M
2W

*RESISTORS = TRW MAR-6

LT1009
2.5V

AN02 F11A

Figure 11A

15k*

4.99k*
AN02 F12

Figure 12

an2f

Information furnished by Linear Technology Corporation is believed to be accurate and reliable.


However, no responsibility is assumed for its use. Linear Technology Corporation makes no representation that the interconnection of its circuits as described herein will not infringe on existing patent rights.

AN2-7

Application Note 2
A nal circuit allows voltage regulator-powered circuity to
run from 110VAC or 220VAC without having to switch transformer windings. Regulator dissipation does not increase
for 220VAC inputs. In Figure 14, when T1 is driven from
110VAC, the LT1011 output goes high, allowing the SCR
to receive gate bias through the 1.2k resistor. The 1N4002
is off. T1s output is rectied by the SCR and the regulator
sees about 8.5V at its input. If T1 is plugged into a 220VAC
source, the negative input at the LT1011 is driven beyond
2.5V and the devices output clamps low. This steers the
SCRs gate bias to ground through the LT1011s output
transistor. The diodes in the LT1011 output line prevent

reverse voltages from reaching the SCR or the LT1011


output. Now, the SCR goes off and the 1N4002 sources
current to the regulator from T1s center tap. Although
T1s input voltage has doubled, its output potential has
halved and the regulator power dissipation remains the
same. Figure 15 shows the AC line input versus regulator
input voltage transfer function. The switch to center tap
drive occurs midway between 110VAC and 220VAC. The
hysteresis, a desirable characteristic, occurs because T1s
output voltage shifts with the step change in loading.

RDROP
(MAX DROP = 300mV)
VIN

IN

LT350A
ADJ

5V AT 3A

OUT
VIN

22

RLOAD

A1
LM301A

121

1k

4
365

25

100pF

5F
AN02 F13

HIGH CURRENT
RETURN
TO GROUND

Figure 13
C-106 (G.E.)
T1

IN

+
5000F

LT1086
ADJ

OUT
240*

VOUT
5V

+
10F

1N4002
110-220AC

720*

1k

18

AN02 F14

1k

*1% FILM RESISTOR


T1 = STACO #SP05A012
= 1N4148 UNLESS MARKED

1.6k

3
1M

1F

LT1011
2

6.2k

UPDATE
The LT3080 regulator
allows VOUT to go to zero

16
REGULATOR INPUT VOLTAGE

1.2k

14
12
10
8
6
4
2

0
0

LT1009C
2.5V

40

80 120 160 200


AC LINE VOLTAGERMS

240

280

AN02 F15

Figure 14

Figure 15
an2f

AN2-8

Linear Technology Corporation

GP/IM 286 5K PRINTED IN USA

1630 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035-7417


(408) 432-1900 FAX: (408) 434-0507

www.linear.com

LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 1986

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