STMicroelectronics L78L06ACD13TR

Overview

L78L06ACD13TR from STMicroelectronics is a three-terminal positive linear voltage regulator delivering a fixed 6 V output at up to 100 mA, featuring internal current limiting, thermal shutdown, and short-circuit protection. It requires no external components, supports input voltages up to 35 V (for 6 V output), and exhibits ±4% output tolerance (A-grade) with 50 µV RMS output noise - ideal for local regulation in microcontroller power rails and sensor interface circuits.

For engineers reviewing the L78L06ACD13TR datasheet, L78L06ACD13TR pinout, L78L06ACD13TR application, or L78L06ACD13TR equivalent, this device serves as a drop-in replacement for legacy 6 V Zener/resistor regulators, offering lower quiescent current (6 mA typ.), improved line/load regulation (100 mV/30 mV), and enhanced supply voltage rejection (39–46 dB at 120 Hz).

Technical Context

The L78L06ACD13TR implements a monolithic bipolar linear regulator architecture with built-in foldback current limiting and thermal overload protection. Its internal circuitry maintains stable 6 V output across input voltages from 8.5 V to 20 V and load currents from 1 mA to 100 mA, with junction temperature operating range of 0 °C to 125 °C.

It achieves low-noise performance via integrated noise suppression and delivers consistent regulation without external capacitors beyond the recommended 0.33 µF input and 0.1 µF output ceramic decoupling. The SO-8 package variant uses internally bonded pins 2, 3, 6, and 7 to the die attach flag, reducing thermal resistance (R_thJC = 20 °C/W) for improved power dissipation when mounted on copper heatsink areas.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Supplied in SO-8 package (ECOPACK® compliant), with pins 2, 3, 6, and 7 internally connected to the die attach flag for enhanced thermal performance. Requires ≥6 cm² PCB copper area for optimal heat-sinking.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar fixed-output linear regulator applications.

Compared with LM78L06ACM/NOPB, L78L06ACD13TR offers better thermal performance in SO-8 and lower noise; versus TLV76060DBVR, it trades higher dropout and noise for zero-configuration operation and direct drop-in replacement capability in legacy designs.

Availability

L78L06ACD13TR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for industrial sensor nodes, automotive body control modules, medical wearable monitors, and smart home hub controllers requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and RoHS-compliant packaging.

Supply support for L78L06ACD13TR includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader specializing in power management, microcontrollers, and analog ICs, with manufacturing facilities across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The L78L series belongs to ST's legacy linear regulator product line, designed specifically for cost-sensitive, reliability-critical applications requiring robust fixed-voltage regulation without external components - especially in industrial, automotive, and consumer electronics.

FAQ

What is the minimum input voltage required for regulation at full 100 mA load?

The L78L06ACD13TR requires a minimum input voltage of 7.7 V to maintain 6 V output under full 100 mA load, based on its 1.7 V typical dropout voltage. Operation below this threshold results in unregulated output proportional to input minus dropout, verified per Table 14 in DS0424 Rev 30.

Can this regulator be used with ceramic output capacitors only?

Yes - the L78L06ACD13TR is stable with a 0.1 µF X7R ceramic capacitor at the output, as confirmed in all test circuits (Figures 3, 13–16) and electrical characterization conditions. No ESR requirements or tantalum/Al-elec mandates apply.

Does the SO-8 package require special PCB layout for thermal performance?

Yes - pins 2, 3, 6, and 7 are internally connected to the die attach flag. To achieve rated 100 mA continuous operation, these pins must be soldered to ≥6 cm² of 2-oz copper on the PCB, as specified in Table 2 thermal data footnote 1 and Figure 2 pin configuration.

How does the ±4% output tolerance affect system-level voltage margining?

The ±4% tolerance (5.76–6.24 V at 25 °C) provides 240 mV headroom below the 6.5 V absolute maximum rating of common 3.3 V LDOs and 6 V-tolerant I/O buffers. This allows safe cascaded regulation while accommodating worst-case line/load/temp drift per Table 14 limits.