Building Block Solutions for High-Performance LDO Regulators FAQs

The Building Block Solutions – High-Performance Low-Dropout (LDO) board is a modular demonstration platform that evaluates and demonstrates the features of several LDO linear regulators for a wide range of low-noise, low-power or high-current power supply applications. The board consists of seven independent submodules, each featuring a different LDO with distinct input voltage, output voltage, output current, noise, dropout, quiescent current, transient response and monitoring/protection characteristics, allowing users to easily test, compare and integrate these solutions into embedded, industrial, portable, sensor, Radio Frequency (RF), analog and point-of-load power design.

The board is fully assembled and tested. For evaluation, you need an external laboratory power supply, a multimeter and an external load.

The seven submodules and their functions are:

BBS1: MIC5319 low-noise, adjustable LDO

• 2.5V–5.5V input, 500 mA output current, 1.8V output voltage, enable pin, low noise (40 µVrms for the 10 Hz to 100 kHz bandwidth), very low dropout voltage (200 mV at 500 mA), good transient performance, low ground current (90 µA typical) and  ±2% accuracy over temperature
• Suitable for low-noise, 1.8V rails in battery-powered embedded systems, such as microprocessors, sensors and noise-sensitive analog circuits

BBS2: MIC5309 high-performance LDO

• 1.7V–5.5V input, 2.5V–5.5V bias, 300 mA output current, 1.2V output voltage, enable pin, strong transient performance, high Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR) (90 dB at 1 kHz), low noise (28 µVrms for the 10 Hz to 100 kHz bandwidth), very-low ground current (23 µA typical), small 1.6 mm × 1.6 mm Dual Flat No-lead (DFN) package, stable with only 1 µF ceramic capacitors and ±2% accuracy over temperature
• Suitable for noise-sensitive 1.2V analog, RF and processor-core supply rails that require high PSRR, low noise and strong transient performance

BBS3: MCP1755 medium-voltage LDO

• 6V–16V input, 300 mA output current, 5V output voltage, enable pin, power-good monitoring, Undervoltage Lockout (UVLO), short circuit current foldback protection, high PSRR (80 dB at 1 kHz), good transient performance, stable with only 1 µF ceramic capacitors and ±2% accuracy over temperature
• Designed for generating regulated 5V rails from up to 16V inputs in applications where power-good monitoring, UVLO and protection features are required

BBS4: MCP1700 low quiescent current LDO

• 3.8V–-6V input, 250 mA output current, 3.3V output voltage, very-low quiescent current (1.6 µA typical), stable with only 1 µF ceramic capacitors and ±0.4% accuracy at +25°C (±3% over temperature)
• Suitable for low-power, 3.3V, battery-operated or always-on standby applications that require very low quiescent current and modest output current

BBS5: MIC5306 high-performance LDO

• 3.5V–5.5V input, 150 mA output current, 3V output voltage, enable pin, very-low ground current (16 µA typical), good transient performance, stable with only 1 µF ceramic capacitors and ±2% accuracy over temperature
• Suitable for low-current 3V rails in portable, embedded and sensor electronics where low ground current and good transient response are required

BBS6: MIC69502 high-current, adjustable LDO

• 5.5V input, 5A output current, 5V output voltage, enable pin, strong transient performance, adjustable output voltage down to 0.5V, very low dropout voltage (250 mV at 5A) and ±2% accuracy over temperature
• Designed for high-current 5V or adjustable point-of-load power rails requiring very-low dropout voltage, fast transient response, and up to 5A output current

BBS7: MIC5301 low-noise, adjustable LDO

• 3.5V–5.5V input, 150 mA output current, 3.3V output voltage, enable pin, low noise (30 µVrms for the 10 Hz to 100 kHz bandwidth), very-low dropout voltage (40 mV at 150 mA), strong transient performance, stable with only a 1 µF ceramic capacitor and ±2% accuracy over temperature
• Suitable for low-noise, low-current 3.3V rails powering sensitive analog, RF, sensor or precision mixed-signal circuitry

The Building Block Solutions – High-Performance LDO regulator board supports use cases, including:

• Rapid prototyping and evaluation of high-performance LDO regulators
• Educational tool for understanding low drop-out linear regulators
• Reference designs for integrating our high-performance LDO regulators into custom designs

The Building Block Solutions – High-Performance LDO (BB-HPL7) board accelerates prototyping by providing preconfigured LDO submodules that can be evaluated and compared without requiring board design or assembly.

Use the following procedure:

• Connect the power supply to the input terminals of the selected submodule (see Figure 1‑1 in the user guide)
• Connect the load to VOUT (+) and GND (–)
• EN is pulled high by default through a resistor
• Turn on the supply and monitor VOUT with a voltmeter; the output should remain close to the nominal value over the operating range

• BBS1 (MIC5319): 1.8V
• BBS2 (MIC5309): 1.2V
• BBS3 (MCP1755): 5V
• BBS4 (MCP1700): 3.3V
• BBS5 (MIC5306): 3V
• BBS6 (MIC69502): 5V
• BBS7 (MIC5301): 3.3V

• BBS1 (MIC5319): 2.5V – 5.5V
• BBS2 (MIC5309): 2.5V – 5.5V
• BBS3 (MCP1755): 6V – 16V
• BBS4 (MCP1700): 3.8V – 6V
• BBS5 (MIC5306): 3.5V – 5.5V
• BBS6 (MIC69502): 5.5V
• BBS7 (MIC5301): 3.5V – 5.5V

• BBS1 (MIC5319): 500 mA
• BBS2 (MIC5309): 300 mA
• BBS3 (MCP1755): 300 mA
• BBS4 (MCP1700): 200 mA
• BBS5 (MIC5306): 250 mA
• BBS6 (MIC69502): 5A
• BBS7 (MIC5301): 150 mA