SNVSAC2A March   2015  – June 2020 LM317A

PRODUCTION DATA.  

  1. Features
  2. Applications
    1.     Typical Application
  3. Description
    1.     Revision History
  4. Device Comparison Table
  5. Pin Configuration and Functions
    1.     Pin Functions
  6. Specifications
    1. 6.1 Absolute Maximum Ratings
    2. 6.2 ESD Ratings
    3. 6.3 Recommended Operating Conditions
    4. 6.4 Thermal Information
    5. 6.5 Electrical Characteristics
    6. 6.6 Typical Characteristics
  7. Detailed Description
    1. 7.1 Overview
    2. 7.2 Functional Block Diagram
    3. 7.3 Feature Description
      1. 7.3.1 Load Regulation
    4. 7.4 Device Functional Modes
      1. 7.4.1 External Capacitors
      2. 7.4.2 Protection Diodes
  8. Application and Implementation
    1. 8.1 Application Information
    2. 8.2 Typical Applications
      1. 8.2.1  1.25-V to 25-V Adjustable Regulator
        1. 8.2.1.1 Design Requirements
        2. 8.2.1.2 Detailed Design Procedure
        3. 8.2.1.3 Application Curve
      2. 8.2.2  5-V Logic Regulator With Electronic Shutdown
      3. 8.2.3  Slow Turnon 15-V Regulator
      4. 8.2.4  Adjustable Regulator With Improved Ripple Rejection
      5. 8.2.5  High-Stability 10-V Regulator
      6. 8.2.6  High-Current Adjustable Regulator
      7. 8.2.7  Emitter-Follower Current Amplifier
      8. 8.2.8  1-A Current Regulator
      9. 8.2.9  Common-Emitter Amplifier
      10. 8.2.10 Low-Cost 3-A Switching Regulator
      11. 8.2.11 Current-Limited Voltage Regulator
      12. 8.2.12 Adjusting Multiple On-Card Regulators With Single Control
      13. 8.2.13 AC Voltage Regulator
      14. 8.2.14 12-V Battery Charger
      15. 8.2.15 Adjustable 4-A Regulator
      16. 8.2.16 Current-Limited 6-V Charger
      17. 8.2.17 Digitally-Selected Outputs
  9. Power Supply Recommendations
  10. 10Layout
    1. 10.1 Layout Guidelines
      1. 10.1.1 Thermal Considerations
        1. 10.1.1.1 Heatsink Requirements
        2. 10.1.1.2 Heatsinking Surface Mount Packages
          1. 10.1.1.2.1 Heatsinking the SOT-223 (DCY) Package
          2. 10.1.1.2.2 Heatsinking the TO-252 (NDP) Package
    2. 10.2 Layout Examples
  11. 11Device and Documentation Support
    1. 11.1 Documentation Support
      1. 11.1.1 Related Documentation
    2. 11.2 Receiving Notification of Documentation Updates
    3. 11.3 Support Resources
    4. 11.4 Trademarks
    5. 11.5 Electrostatic Discharge Caution
    6. 11.6 Glossary
  12. 12Mechanical, Packaging, and Orderable Information

Package Options

Mechanical Data (Package|Pins)
Thermal pad, mechanical data (Package|Pins)
Orderable Information

Load Regulation

The LM317A is capable of providing extremely good load regulation but a few precautions are needed to obtain maximum performance. The current set resistor, R1, should be connected near the output terminal of the regulator rather than near the load. If R1 is placed too far from the output terminal, then the increased trace resistance, RS, will cause an error voltage drop in the adjustment loop and degrade load regulation performance. Therefore, R1 should be placed as close as possible to the output terminal to minimize RS and maximize load regulation performance.

Figure 16 shows the effect of the trace resistance, RS, when R1 is placed far from the output terminal of the regulator. It is clear that RS will cause an error voltage drop especially during higher current loads, so it is important to minimize the RS trace resistance by keeping R1 close to the regulator output terminal.

LM317A 906306.gifFigure 16. Regulator with Line Resistance in Output Lead

With the TO package, care should be taken to minimize the wire length of the output lead. The ground of R2 can be returned near the ground of the load to provide remote ground sensing and improve load regulation.