Just remembered this.
Reference not to hand .
Somebody will have one.

The 3 terminal linear regulator has been around (3+ decades?) so long and
is such an obvious building block that it seemed likely to live as long
again.

BUT I predict that this will not be so. 5 years from now 3 terminal linear
regulators as we know them will be sold only as old stock and spare parts.

For new work they will be replaced, I claim, by .... 3 terminal linear
regulators [drum roll].
3 pins again.
Effectively in/out ref control as now.
But quite different.

BUT the new and old ones will not be same circuit swappable.
The new ones will be fundamentally superior.
Able to regulate from almost 0V up (unlike eg LM317).
Able to be paralled and to load share with very little effort (not quite
none).
Voltage setting will be more controllable and predictable.
And more.

Before somebody turns up a writeup, would anyone wish to suggest how all
these things might be ? :-).


            Russell McMahon
--=20
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