LP3876-ADJ Datasheet, PDF (9/19 Pages) National Semiconductor (TI) – 3A Fast Ultra Low Dropout Linear Regulator

LP3876-ADJ
www.ti.com
SNVS245C – SEPTEMBER 2003 – REVISED APRIL 2013
SELECTING A CAPACITOR
It is important to note that capacitance tolerance and variation with temperature must be taken into consideration
when selecting a capacitor so that the minimum required amount of capacitance is provided over the full
operating temperature range. In general, a good Tantalum capacitor will show very little capacitance variation
with temperature, but a ceramic may not be as good (depending on dielectric type). Aluminum electrolytics also
typically have large temperature variation of capacitance value.
Equally important to consider is a capacitor's ESR change with temperature: this is not an issue with ceramics,
as their ESR is extremely low. However, it is very important in Tantalum and aluminum electrolytic capacitors.
Both show increasing ESR at colder temperatures, but the increase in aluminum electrolytic capacitors is so
severe they may not be feasible for some applications (see CAPACITOR CHARACTERISTICS).
CAPACITOR CHARACTERISTICS
CERAMIC: For values of capacitance in the 10 to 100 µF range, ceramics are usually larger and more costly
than tantalums but give superior AC performance for bypassing high frequency noise because of very low ESR
(typically less than 10 mΩ). However, some dielectric types do not have good capacitance characteristics as a
function of voltage and temperature.
Z5U and Y5V dielectric ceramics have capacitance that drops severely with applied voltage. A typical Z5U or
Y5V capacitor can lose 60% of its rated capacitance with half of the rated voltage applied to it. The Z5U and Y5V
also exhibit a severe temperature effect, losing more than 50% of nominal capacitance at high and low limits of
the temperature range.
X7R and X5R dielectric ceramic capacitors are strongly recommended if ceramics are used, as they typically
maintain a capacitance range within ±20% of nominal over full operating ratings of temperature and voltage. Of
course, they are typically larger and more costly than Z5U/Y5U types for a given voltage and capacitance.
TANTALUM: Solid Tantalum capacitors are recommended for use on the output because their typical ESR is
very close to the ideal value required for loop compensation. They also work well as input capacitors if selected
to meet the ESR requirements previously listed.
Tantalums also have good temperature stability: a good quality Tantalum will typically show a capacitance value
that varies less than 10-15% across the full temperature range of 125°C to −40°C. ESR will vary only about 2X
going from the high to low temperature limits.
The increasing ESR at lower temperatures can cause oscillations when marginal quality capacitors are used (if
the ESR of the capacitor is near the upper limit of the stability range at room temperature).
ALUMINUM: This capacitor type offers the most capacitance for the money. The disadvantages are that they are
larger in physical size, not widely available in surface mount, and have poor AC performance (especially at
higher frequencies) due to higher ESR and ESL.
Compared by size, the ESR of an aluminum electrolytic is higher than either Tantalum or ceramic, and it also
varies greatly with temperature. A typical aluminum electrolytic can exhibit an ESR increase of as much as 50X
when going from 25°C down to −40°C.
It should also be noted that many aluminum electrolytics only specify impedance at a frequency of 120 Hz, which
indicates they have poor high frequency performance. Only aluminum electrolytics that have an impedance
specified at a higher frequency (between 20 kHz and 100 kHz) should be used for the LP387X. Derating must be
applied to the manufacturer's ESR specification, since it is typically only valid at room temperature.
Any applications using aluminum electrolytics should be thoroughly tested at the lowest ambient operating
temperature where ESR is maximum.
PCB LAYOUT
Good PC layout practices must be used or instability can be induced because of ground loops and voltage drops.
The input and output capacitors must be directly connected to the input, output, and ground pins of the LP387X
using traces which do not have other currents flowing in them (Kelvin connect).
The best way to do this is to lay out C_IN and C_OUT near the device with short traces to the V_IN, V_OUT, and ground
pins. The regulator ground pin should be connected to the external circuit ground so that the regulator and its
capacitors have a "single point ground".
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