The TPS74801-Q1 belongs to a family of low dropout regulators that feature soft-start capability. This regulator uses a low current bias input to power all internal control circuitry, allowing the NMOS pass transistor to regulate very low input and output voltages.

Using an NMOS pass transistor offers several critical advantages for many applications. Unlike a PMOS topology device, the output capacitor has little effect on loop stability. This architecture allows the TPS74801-Q1 to be stable with any capacitor type of value 2.2 μF or greater. Transient response is also superior to PMOS topologies, particularly for low V_IN applications.

The TPS74801-Q1 features a programmable voltage-controlled soft-start circuit that provides a smooth, monotonic start-up and limits start-up inrush currents that can be caused by large capacitive loads. A power-good (PG) output is available to allow supply monitoring and sequencing of other supplies. An enable (EN) pin with hysteresis and deglitch allows slow-ramping signals to be used for sequencing the device. The low V_IN and V_OUT capability allows for inexpensive, easy-to-design, and efficient linear regulation between the multiple supply voltages often present in processor-intensive systems.