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Programming the TPS78601 Adjustable LDO
Regulator
The output voltage of the TPS78601 adjustable
regulator is programmed using an external resistor
divider as shown in Figure 25. The output voltage is
calculated using Equation 1:
C1
(3 x 10
–7
) x (R1
(R1 x R2)
R2)
(3)
VO
Vref
1
R1
R2
(1)
Regulator Protection
The TPS786xx PMOS-pass transistor has a built-in
back diode that conducts reverse current when the
input voltage drops below the output voltage (e.g.,
during power down). Current is conducted from the
output to the input and is not internally limited. If
extended reverse voltage operation is anticipated,
external limiting might be appropriate.
R1
VO
Vref
1
R2
(2)
OUTPUT VOLTAGE
PROGRAMMING GUIDE
OUTPUT
VOLTAGE
R1
R2
C1
GND
NR
FB
IN
OUT
EN
V
IN
V
OUT
R1
C1
R2
0.01
 μ
F
TPS78601
1 
μ
F
1.8 V
3.6V
14.0 k
57.9 k
30.1 k
30.1 k
33 pF
15 pF
2.2 
μ
F
TPS78601, TPS78618
TPS78625, TPS78628
TPS78630, TPS78633
SLVS389D–SEPTEMBER 2002–REVISED OCTOBER 2004
The suggested value of this capacitor for several
resistor ratios is shown in the table below. If this
capacitor is not used (such as in a unity-gain con-
figuration), then the minimum recommended output
capacitor is 2.2 μF instead of 1 μF.
where:
V
REF
 = 1.2246 V typ (the internal reference
voltage)
Resistors R1 and R2 should be chosen for approxi-
mately 40-μA divider current. Lower value resistors
can be used for improved noise performance, but the
device wastes more power. Higher values should be
avoided, as leakage current at FB increases the
output voltage error. The recommended design pro-
cedure is to choose R2 = 30.1 k
 to set the divider
current at 40 μA, C1 = 15 pF for stability, and then
calculate R1 using Equation 2:
The TPS786xx features internal current limiting and
thermal protection. During normal operation, the
TPS786xx limits output current to approximately 2.8
A. When current limiting engages, the output voltage
scales back linearly until the overcurrent condition
ends. While current limiting is designed to prevent
gross device failure, care should be taken not to
exceed the power dissipation ratings of the package.
If the temperature of the device exceeds approxi-
mately 165
°
C, thermal-protection circuitry shuts it
down. Once the device has cooled down to below
approximately 140
°
C, regulator operation resumes.
In order to improve the stability of the adjustable
version, it is suggested that a small compensation
capacitor be placed between OUT and FB. The
approximate value of this capacitor can be calculated
using Equation 3:
Figure 25. TPS78601 Adjustable LDO Regulator Programming
10