Advanced technology and new LDO features for highly demanding applications

摘要

Most designers would agree that linear regulators are one of the most easy-to-use types of regulator available and, for that same reason, usually their most preferred type. But in today's highly demanding applications, it is increasingly difficult to get a high-performance design running by utilizing only linear solutions. This is when the questions arise: What resources can the designer use to his or her favor? What are the trade-offs and the actual limitations for choosing linear technology for DC-DC conversion over other topologies? Which LDOs have better efficiency than others for the same application? Does choosing one manufacturer's linear regulators over another make any difference?