Hi!
I'm curious how can lt3080 have just ~350mV dropout under full load(1.1A). Any ideas? The datasheet says it's a npn-regulator with a separate Vcontrol pin that consumes up to 30mA (needs to be pulled +1.2V above Vin or dropout will be much bigger). According to the datasheet, it supplies internal opamp that drives BJT. So... Does this mean they use some good NPN transistor with very low Vce(sat)?
A 30mA consumption for the opamp and 1.1A max output gives me ~37 hFE (assuming all this current drives the pass element). I tried to find a similar part in digikey, but there are just a few parts with such a low saturation dropout.... Did I miss something? Or may be I'm wrong on how lt3080 works inside?