In summary, linear voltage regulators provide simple low-noise, step-down power management solutions. They are used in significant quantities in contemporary applications. LDO regulators offer numerous benefits over industry standard devices such as the 78xx series products, including shutdown functionality to lower saturation voltage. Switching regulators generate noise during each switching period, require multiple external components, and designs are complex in order to achieve high efficiency. ROHM’s standard LDO regulators are series regulators requiring  fewer external parts, which results in a lower output noise level, ideal for audio/video devices. Two main features of ROHM’s LDO regulators are a foldback current limiting circuit for short protection, soft start, under voltage lock out, output discharge, thermal shutdown, and over-current protection, and a shutdown function (Enable or Inhibit) which is a logic level control that allows the regulators to interface with a microcontroller.