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 LM317L 3-Terminal Adjustable Regulator
May 2006

LM317L
3-Terminal Adjustable Regulator
General Description Also, it makes an especially simple adjustable switching
regulator, a programmable output regulator, or by connecting
The LM317L is an adjustable 3-terminal positive voltage a fixed resistor between the adjustment and output, the
regulator capable of supplying 100mA over a 1.2V to 37V LM317L can be used as a precision current regulator. Sup-
output range. It is exceptionally easy to use and requires plies with electronic shutdown can be achieved by clamping
only two external resistors to set the output voltage. Further, the adjustment terminal to ground which programs the out-
both line and load regulation are better than standard fixed put to 1.2V where most loads draw little current.
regulators. Also, the LM317L is available packaged in a
The LM317L is available in a standard TO-92 transistor
standard TO-92 transistor package which is easy to use.
package, the SO-8 package, and 6-Bump micro SMD pack-
In addition to higher performance than fixed regulators, the age. The LM317L is rated for operation over a −25˚C to
LM317L offers full overload protection. Included on the chip 125˚C range.
are current limit, thermal overload protection and safe area
protection. All overload protection circuitry remains fully func-
tional even if the adjustment terminal is disconnected.
Features
n Adjustable output down to 1.2V
Normally, no capacitors are needed unless the device is
situated more than 6 inches from the input filter capacitors in n Guaranteed 100mA output current
which case an input bypass is needed. An optional output n Line regulation typically 0.01%V
capacitor can be added to improve transient response. The n Load regulation typically 0.1%
adjustment terminal can be bypassed to achieve very high n Current limit constant with temperature
ripple rejection ratios which are difficult to achieve with stan- n Eliminates the need to stock many voltages
dard 3-terminal regulators. n Standard 3-lead transistor package
Besides replacing fixed regulators, the LM317L is useful in a n 80dB ripple rejection
wide variety of other applications. Since the regulator is n Available in TO-92, SO-8, or 6-Bump micro SMD
“floating” and sees only the input-to-output differential volt- package
age, supplies of several hundred volts can be regulated as n Output is short circuit protected
long as the maximum input-to-output differential is not ex-
n See AN-1112 for micro SMD considerations
ceeded.

Connection Diagrams
TO-92 Plastic package 8-Pin SOIC

00906405
00906404
Top View

© 2006 National Semiconductor Corporation DS009064 www.national.com

LM317L
Connection Diagrams (Continued)

6-Bump micro SMD micro SMD Laser Mark

00906450

00906449
*NC = Not Internally connected.
Top View
(Bump Side Down)

Ordering Information
Package Part Number Package Marking Media Transport NSC Drawing
TO-92 LM317LZ LM317LZ 1.8k Units per Box Z03A
8-Pin SOIC LM317LM LM317LM Rails M08A
6-Bump micro * LM317LIBP – 250 Units Tape and Reel
BPA06HPB
SMD * LM317LIBPX – 3k Units Tape and Reel

Note: The micro SMD package marking is a single digit manufacturing Date
Code only.

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 LM317L
Absolute Maximum Ratings (Note 1) Storage Temperature −55˚C to +150˚C
If Military/Aerospace specified devices are required, Lead Temperature
please contact the National Semiconductor Sales Office/ (Soldering, 4 seconds) 260˚C
Distributors for availability and specifications. Output is Short Circuit Protected
Power Dissipation Internally Limited ESD Susceptibility
Input-Output Voltage Differential 40V Human Body Model (Note 5) 2kV
Operating Junction Temperature
Range −40˚C to +125˚C

Electrical Characteristics (Note 2)

Parameter Conditions Min Typ Max Units
Line Regulation TJ = 25˚C, 3V ≤ (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 40V, IL ≤ 20mA (Note 3) 0.01 0.04 %/V
Load Regulation TJ = 25˚C, 5mA ≤ IOUT ≤ IMAX, (Note 3) 0.1 0.5 %
Thermal Regulation TJ = 25˚C, 10ms Pulse 0.04 0.2 %/W
Adjustment Pin Current 50 100 µA
Adjustment Pin Current 5mA ≤ IL ≤ 100mA 0.2 5 µA
Change 3V ≤ (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 40V, P ≤ 625mW
Reference Voltage 3V ≤ (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 40V, (Note 4) 1.20 1.25 1.30 V
5mA ≤ IOUT ≤ 100mA, P ≤ 625mW
Line Regulation 3V ≤ (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 40V, IL ≤ 20mA (Note 3) 0.02 0.07 %/V
Load Regulation 5mA ≤ IOUT ≤ 100mA, (Note 3) 0.3 1.5 %
Temperature Stability TMIN ≤ TJ ≤ TMax 0.65 %
Minimum Load Current (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 40V 3.5 5 mA
3V ≤ (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 15V 1.5 2.5
Current Limit 3V ≤ (VIN − VOUT) ≤ 13V 100 200 300 mA
(VIN − VOUT) = 40V 25 50 150 mA
Rms Output Noise, % of VOUT TJ = 25˚C, 10Hz ≤ f ≤ 10kHz 0.003 %
Ripple Rejection Ratio VOUT = 10V, f = 120Hz, CADJ = 0 65 dB
CADJ = 10µF 66 80 dB
Long-Term Stability TJ = 125˚C, 1000 Hours 0.3 1 %
Thermal Resistance Z Package 0.4" Leads 180 ˚C/W
Junction to Ambient Z Package 0.125 Leads 160 ˚C/W
SO-8 Package 165 ˚C/W
6-Bump micro SMD 290 ˚C/W

Note 1: “Absolute Maximum Ratings” indicate limits beyond which damage to the device may occur. Operating Ratings indicate conditions for which the device is
functional, but do not guarantee specific performance limits.
Note 2: Unless otherwise noted, these specifications apply: −25˚C ≤ Tj ≤ 125˚C for the LM317L; VIN − VOUT = 5V and IOUT = 40mA. Although power dissipation
is internally limited, these specifications are applicable for power dissipations up to 625mW. IMAX is 100mA.
Note 3: Regulation is measured at constant junction temperature, using pulse testing with a low duty cycle. Changes in output voltage due to heating effects are
covered under the specification for thermal regulation.
Note 4: Thermal resistance of the TO-92 package is 180˚C/W junction to ambient with 0.4" leads from a PC board and 160˚C/W junction to ambient with 0.125" lead
length to PC board.
Note 5: The human body model is a 100pF capacitor discharged through a 1.5kΩ resistor into each pin.

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LM317L
Typical Performance Characteristics
(Output capacitor = 0µF unless otherwise noted.)

Load Regulation Current Limit

00906434 00906435

Adjustment Current Dropout Voltage

00906436 00906437

Reference Voltage Temperature Stability Minimum Operating Current

00906438 00906439

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 LM317L
Typical Performance Characteristics (Output capacitor = 0µF unless otherwise noted.) (Continued)

Ripple Rejection Ripple Rejection

00906441
00906440

Output Impedance Line Transient Response

00906442
00906443

Load Transient Response Thermal Regulation

00906444 00906445

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LM317L
Application Hints Although the LM317L is stable with no output capacitors, like
any feedback circuit, certain values of external capacitance
In operation, the LM317L develops a nominal 1.25V refer- can cause excessive ringing. This occurs with values be-
ence voltage, VREF, between the output and adjustment tween 500pF and 5000pF. A 1µF solid tantalum (or 25µF
terminal. The reference voltage is impressed across pro- aluminum electrolytic) on the output swamps this effect and
gram resistor R1 and, since the voltage is constant, a con- insures stability.
stant current I1 then flows through the output set resistor R2,
giving an output voltage of LOAD REGULATION
The LM317L is capable of providing extremely good load
regulation but a few precautions are needed to obtain maxi-
mum performance. The current set resistor connected be-
tween the adjustment terminal and the output terminal (usu-
Since the 100µA current from the adjustment terminal repre- ally 240Ω) should be tied directly to the output of the
sents an error term, the LM317L was designed to minimize regulator rather than near the load. This eliminates line
IADJ and make it very constant with line and load changes. drops from appearing effectively in series with the reference
To do this, all quiescent operating current is returned to the and degrading regulation. For example, a 15V regulator with
output establishing a minimum load current requirement. If 0.05Ω resistance between the regulator and load will have a
there is insufficient load on the output, the output will rise. load regulation due to line resistance of 0.05Ω x IL. If the set
resistor is connected near the load the effective line resis-
tance will be 0.05Ω (1 + R2/R1) or in this case, 11.5 times
worse.
Figure 2 shows the effect of resistance between the regula-
tor and 240Ω set resistor.
With the TO-92 package, it is easy to minimize the resis-
tance from the case to the set resistor, by using two separate
leads to the output pin. The ground of R2 can be returned
near the ground of the load to provide remote ground sens-
ing and improve load regulation.

00906407

FIGURE 1.

EXTERNAL CAPACITORS
An input bypass capacitor is recommended in case the
regulator is more than 6 inches away from the usual large
filter capacitor. A 0.1µF disc or 1µF solid tantalum on the 00906408

input is suitable input bypassing for almost all applications.

The device is more sensitive to the absence of input bypass- FIGURE 2. Regulator with Line Resistance
ing when adjustment or output capacitors are used, but the in Output Lead
above values will eliminate the possibility of problems.
The adjustment terminal can be bypassed to ground on the THERMAL REGULATION
LM317L to improve ripple rejection and noise. This bypass
capacitor prevents ripple and noise from being amplified as When power is dissipated in an IC, a temperature gradient
the output voltage is increased. With a 10µF bypass capaci- occurs across the IC chip affecting the individual IC circuit
tor 80dB ripple rejection is obtainable at any output level. components. With an IC regulator, this gradient can be es-
Increases over 10µF do not appreciably improve the ripple pecially severe since power dissipation is large. Thermal
rejection at frequencies above 120Hz. If the bypass capaci- regulation is the effect of these temperature gradients on
tor is used, it is sometimes necessary to include protection output voltage (in percentage output change) per watt of
diodes to prevent the capacitor from discharging through power change in a specified time. Thermal regulation error is
internal low current paths and damaging the device. independent of electrical regulation or temperature coeffi-
cient, and occurs within 5ms to 50ms after a change in
In general, the best type of capacitors to use is solid tanta- power dissipation. Thermal regulation depends on IC layout
lum. Solid tantalum capacitors have low impedance even at as well as electrical design. The thermal regulation of a
high frequencies. Depending upon capacitor construction, it voltage regulator is defined as the percentage change of
takes about 25µF in aluminum electrolytic to equal 1µF solid VOUT, per watt, within the first 10ms after a step of power is
tantalum at high frequencies. Ceramic capacitors are also applied. The LM317L specification is 0.2%/W, maximum.
good at high frequencies; but some types have a large
decrease in capacitance at frequencies around 0.5MHz. For In the Thermal Regulation curve at the bottom of the Typical
this reason, a 0.01µF disc may seem to work better than a Performance Characteristics page, a typical LM317L’s out-
0.1µF disc as a bypass. put changes only 7mV (or 0.07% of VOUT = −10V) when a
1W pulse is applied for 10ms. This performance is thus well
inside the specification limit of 0.2%/W x 1W = 0.2% maxi-

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 LM317L
Application Hints (Continued) the output of the regulator. The discharge current depends
on the value of the capacitor, the output voltage of the
mum. When the 1W pulse is ended, the thermal regulation regulator, and the rate of decrease of VIN. In the LM317L,
again shows a 7mV change as the gradients across the this discharge path is through a large junction that is able to
LM317L chip die out. Note that the load regulation error of sustain a 2A surge with no problem. This is not true of other
about 14mV (0.14%) is additional to the thermal regulation types of positive regulators. For output capacitors of 25 µF or
error. less, the LM317L’s ballast resistors and output structure limit
the peak current to a low enough level so that there is no
PROTECTION DIODES need to use a protection diode.
When external capacitors are used with any IC regulator it is The bypass capacitor on the adjustment terminal can dis-
sometimes necessary to add protection diodes to prevent charge through a low current junction. Discharge occurs
the capacitors from discharging through low current points when either the input or output is shorted. Internal to the
into the regulator. Most 10µF capacitors have low enough LM317L is a 50Ω resistor which limits the peak discharge
internal series resistance to deliver 20A spikes when current. No protection is needed for output voltages of 25V
shorted. Although the surge is short, there is enough energy or less and 10µF capacitance. Figure 3 shows an LM317L
to damage parts of the IC. with protection diodes included for use with outputs greater
When an output capacitor is connected to a regulator and than 25V and high values of output capacitance.
the input is shorted, the output capacitor will discharge into

00906409

D1 protects against C1
D2 protects against C2

FIGURE 3. Regulator with Protection Diodes

LM317L micro SMD Light Sensitivity micro SMD does not sustain permanent damage from light
Exposing the LM317L micro SMD package to bright sunlight exposure. Removing the light source will cause LM317L’s
may cause the VREF to drop. In a normal office environment VREF to recover to the proper value.
of fluorescent lighting the output is not affected. The LM317

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 LM317L

Schematic Diagram

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8
00906410
 LM317L
Typical Applications Slow Turn-On 15V Regulator
Digitally Selected Outputs

00906415

Adjustable Regulator with

Improved Ripple Rejection

00906411
*Sets maximum VOUT

High Gain Amplifier

00906416
†Solid tantalum
*Discharges C1 if output is shorted to ground

High Stability 10V Regulator

00906412

Adjustable Current Limiter

00906413
12 ≤ R1 ≤ 240

Precision Current Limiter 00906417

00906414

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LM317L
Typical Applications (Continued) Regulator With 15mA Short Circuit Current

Adjustable Regulator with Current Limiter

00906420
00906418
Short circuit current is approximately 600 mV/R3, or 60mA (compared to
LM317LZ’s 200mA current limit). Power Follower
At 25mA output only 3/4V of drop occurs in R3 and R4.

0V–30V Regulator

00906421

00906419
Full output current not available at high input-output voltages

Adjusting Multiple On-Card Regulators with Single Control*

00906422
*All outputs within ± 100mV
†Minimum load −5mA

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 LM317L
Typical Applications (Continued) 5V Logic Regulator with Electronic Shutdown*

100mA Current Regulator

00906426
00906423 *Minimum output ≈ 1.2V

1.2V–12V Regulator with Minimum Program Current

Current Limited 6V Charger

00906424
*Minimum load current ≈ 2 mA

50mA Constant Current Battery 00906427

Charger for Nickel-Cadmium *Sets peak current, IPEAK = 0.6V/R1
Batteries **1000µF is recommended to filter out any input transients.

00906425

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LM317L
Typical Applications (Continued)

Short Circuit Protected 80V Supply

00906428

Basic High Voltage Regulator

00906429
Q1, Q2: NSD134 or similar
C1, C2: 1µF, 200V mylar**
*Heat sink

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 LM317L
Typical Applications (Continued)

Precision High Voltage Regulator

00906430
Q1, Q2: NSD134 or similar
C1, C2: 1µF, 200V mylar**
*Heat sink
**Mylar is a registered trademark of DuPont Co.

Tracking Regulator Regulator With Trimmable Output Voltage

00906432
Trim Procedure:
— If VOUT is 23.08V or higher, cut out R3 (if lower, don’t cut it out).
— Then if VOUT is 22.47V or higher, cut out R4 (if lower, don’t).
— Then if VOUT is 22.16V or higher, cut out R5 (if lower, don’t).
This will trim the output to well within ± 1% of 22.00 VDC, without any of
the expense or uncertainty of a trim pot (see LB-46). Of course, this
00906431 technique can be used at any output voltage level.
A1 = LM301A, LM307, or LF13741 only
R1, R2 = matched resistors with good TC tracking

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LM317L
Typical Applications (Continued)

Precision Reference with Short-Circuit Proof Output

00906433
*R1–R4 from thin-film network,
Beckman 694-3-R2K-D or similar

1.2V-25 Adjustable Regulator Fully Protected (Bulletproof)

Lamp Driver

00906402

00906401
Full output current not available at high input-output voltages Lamp Flasher
†Optional — improves transient response
*Needed if device is more than 6 inches from filter capacitors

00906403
Output rate — 4 flashes per second at 10% duty cycle

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 LM317L
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted

SO-8 Molded Package

NS Package Number M08A

TO-92 Plastic Package (Z)

NS Package Number Z03A

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LM317L 3-Terminal Adjustable Regulator
Physical Dimensions inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted (Continued)

NOTE: UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.

1. EPOXY COATING
2. 63Sn/37Pb EUTECTIC BUMP.
3. RECOMMEND NON-SOLDER MASK DEFINED LANDING PAD.
4. PIN A1 IS ESTABLISHED BY LOWER LEFT CORNER WITH RESPECT TO TEXT ORIENTATION PINS ARE NUMBERED COUNTERCLOCKWISE.
5. XXX IN DRAWING NUMBER REPRESENTS PACKAGE SIZE VARIATION WHERE X1 IS PACKAGE WIDTH, X2 IS PACKAGE LENGTH AND X3 IS
PACKAGE HEIGHT.
6. REFERENCE JEDEC REGISTRATION MO-211, VARIATION BC.
6-Bump micro SMD
NS Package Number BPA06HPB
X1 = 0.955 X2 = 1.615 X3 =0.850

National does not assume any responsibility for use of any circuitry described, no circuit patent licenses are implied and National reserves
the right at any time without notice to change said circuitry and specifications.
For the most current product information visit us at www.national.com.

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WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL OF NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION. As used herein:
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which, (a) are intended for surgical implant into the body, or device or system whose failure to perform can be reasonably
(b) support or sustain life, and whose failure to perform when expected to cause the failure of the life support device or
properly used in accordance with instructions for use system, or to affect its safety or effectiveness.
provided in the labeling, can be reasonably expected to result
in a significant injury to the user.
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