The LT3088 uses a current source as a reference to adjust the output voltage with a single resistor, starting from 0V. This regulator architecture, along with line and load regulation on the order of a few millivolts, allows for easy paralleling of multiple ICs to dissipate heat and achieve higher output current.
The LT3088 achieves unparalleled line and load regulation of less than 2mV regardless of the output voltage, and its input voltage range is 1.2V to 36V. The device is well-suited for applications requiring multiple power rails. The output voltage is programmable with a single resistor from 0V to 34.5V with a dropout voltage of 1.2V. The on-chip 50µA current reference has an accuracy of ±1%. Regulation, transient response, and output noise (27µVRMS) are independent of the output voltage due to the device's voltage follower architecture. The LT3088 can be easily configured as a 3-terminal regulator; its SOT-223 and DD-Pak packages accommodate standard market configurations, such as the LT1117, but with superior performance. Input and output capacitors for increased stability are optional in linear regulator or current source mode. The LT3088's internal protection circuitry includes input reverse polarity protection, reverse current protection, internal current limiting, and thermal shutdown.
According to Robert Dobkin, Vice President of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer at Linear Technology, “The LT3088’s robust architecture and protection features provide designers with new tools for reliable design. A
DD-Pak package is available for high-power dissipation, and several surface-mount packages are available for lower-power applications. The device is easily configured as a 3-terminal regulator, offering significantly better performance than previous devices.”
The LT3088 is available in several thermally enhanced, surface-mount compatible packages, including a low-profile (0.75mm) 8-terminal DFN measuring 3mm x 3mm, a 3-terminal SOT-223, and a 3-terminal DD-Pak, enabling power dissipation of up to 2W in surface-mount applications without a heatsink. Various grades and temperature ranges are offered, including grades E and I between -40°C and 125°C, the high-reliability grade H between -40°C and 150°C, and the military grade MP between -55°C and 150°C. The starting price is $2.07 per unit for orders of 1,000 units of grade E.

More information or a quote