TPS77701, TPS77715, TPS77718, TPS77725, TPS77733 WITH RESET OUTPUT
TPS77801, TPS77815, TPS77818, TPS77825, TPS77833 WITH PG OUTPUT
FAST-TRANSIENT-RESPONSE 750-mA LOW-DROPOUT VOLTAGE REGULATORS
SLVS230A – SEPTEMBER 1999 – REVISED SEPTEMBER 1999
15
POST OFFICE BOX 655303 • DALLAS, TEXAS 75265
APPLICATION INFORMATION
The TPS777xx and TPS778xx families include four fixed-output voltage regulators (1.5 V, 1.8 V, 2.5 V, and
3.3 V), and an adjustable regulator, the TPS77x01 (adjustable from 1.5 V to 5.5 V for TPS77701 option and 1.2
V to 5.5 V for TPS77801 option).
device operation
The TPS777xx and TPS778xx feature very low quiescent current, which remains virtually constant even with
varying loads. Conventional LDO regulators use a pnp pass element, the base current of which is directly
proportional to the load current through the regulator (IB = IC/β). The TPS777xx and TPS778xx use a PMOS
transistor to pass current; because the gate of the PMOS is voltage driven, operating current is low and
invariable over the full load range.
Another pitfall associated with the pnp-pass element is its tendency to saturate when the device goes into
dropout. The resulting drop in β forces an increase in IB to maintain the load. During power up, this translates
to large start-up currents. Systems with limited supply current may fail to start up. In battery-powered systems,
it means rapid battery discharge when the voltage decays below the minimum required for regulation. The
TPS777xx and TPS778xx quiescent currents remain low even when the regulator drops out, eliminating both
problems.
The TPS777xx and TPS778xx families also feature a shutdown mode that places the output in the
high-impedance state (essentially equal to the feedback-divider resistance) and reduces quiescent current to
2 µA. If the shutdown feature is not used, EN
should be tied to ground. Response to an enable transition is quick;
regulated output voltage is typically reestablished in 120 µs.
minimum load requirements
The TPS777xx and TPS778xx families are stable even at zero load; no minimum load is required for operation.
FB - pin connection (adjustable version only)
The FB pin is an input pin to sense the output voltage and close the loop for the adjustable option . The output
voltage is sensed through a resistor divider network to close the loop as it is shown in Figure 25. Normally , this
connection should be as short as possible; however, the connection can be made near a critical circuit to
improve performance at that point. Internally , FB connects to a high-impedance wide-bandwidth amplifier and
noise pickup feeds through to the regulator output. Routing the FB connection to minimize/avoid noise pickup
is essential.
external capacitor requirements
An input capacitor is not usually required; however, a ceramic bypass capacitor (0.047 µF or larger) improves
load transient response and noise rejection if the TPS777xx or TPS778xx are located more than a few inches
from the power supply. A higher-capacitance electrolytic capacitor may be necessary if large (hundreds of
milliamps) load transients with fast rise times are anticipated.
Like all low dropout regulators, the TPS777xx and TPS778xx require an output capacitor connected between
OUT and GND to stabilize the internal control loop. The minimum recommended capacitance value is 10 µF
and the ESR (equivalent series resistance) must be between 50 mΩ and 1.5 Ω. Capacitor values 10 µF or larger
are acceptable, provided the ESR is less than 1.5 Ω. Solid tantalum electrolytic, aluminum electrolytic, and
multilayer ceramic capacitors are all suitable, provided they meet the requirements described previously.