JFET Increases Voltage Rating for Linear Regulator
By adding a JFET in cascode with a linear regulator (see the figure below), you can extend the regulator's input-voltage range. The regulator shown suits battery-powered applications, because its CMOS circuitry draws only 12µA maximum, regardless of the output-current level. The chip's VIN limit of 16.5V excludes some applications, however.
Connecting the external JFET extends the circuit's input-voltage limit to the JFET's gate-source breakdown voltage. A J106 device, for instance, extends this limit to 25V. The J106 has a 6-ohm on-resistance, and IC1 has a minimum VIN/VOUT differential of 0.6V to 0.8V; thus, for low load currents, the combination can deliver a 5V output with chip inputs as low as 5.6V. The circuit can deliver 40mA at 5V with a 6.5V VIN.
Replacing the J106 with a 2N4391 JFET increases the allowable input voltage to 40V. The 2N4391 has a 30-ohm on-resistance, so it delivers 40mA with a 2V in/out differential or 10mA with a 1V differential.
Figure 1. Adding a JFET in cascode with a linear-regulator IC extends the allowable input voltage to 25V or 40V, depending on the JFET device used.
A similar version of this article appeared in the July 12, 1990 issue of Electronic Design.
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