On Wed, 12 Apr 2000 00:50:16 -0500, you wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Apr 2000, Russell McMahon wrote:
>
>> Of particular interest to me was a TO92 regulator (KA76L05Z) with low
>> dropout specs and max input voltage apparently similar to the LM2936 (which
>> I use due to its very low quiescent current, very low dropout, higher than
>> many max input voltage) and at a MUCH lower price from RS.
>
>I just stumbled upon the ICL7663, programmable (2 resistors), low dropout,
><10uA quiescent current, logic controlled shutdown, and a tempo output
>that looks like it could be used for generating LCD contrast voltage.
>Works like a charm. Is there something else I should look at as well?
>Typically I want to use either 4xAA or a 9V battery and have it last for
>many months, so the 78L05 isn't a particularly good choice.  The 7663 cost
>me a couple of bucks, but if there's something equivalent in performance
>and cheaper or easier to get, I'd love to hear about it.
>
>Dale
>---
>The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new
>discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."
>                -- Isaac Asimov
Check out Motorola's 78LC and 78FC devices - about 1uA quiescent and
very cheap ($0.50). 
Cheap low-dropout, low power regs are also available from Holtek,
Seiko, Ricoh and others.