Variable output regulators with a shutdown switch offer the greatest amount of design flexibility and thus apply to a wider range of power management scenarios than their fixed output counterparts. The flexibility comes at the expense of a slightly larger and more complex application circuit, two resistors are required to set the output voltage. ROHM’s secondary LDO regulators possess ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) characteristics that allow them to be compatible with ceramic capacitors. It is no secret that capacitors are necessary elements in the external circuitry of linear regulators; however, traditional designs required electrolytic capacitors for proper/stable operation. There are multiple advantages to using ceramic capacitors—in general, they are smaller and less expensive than electrolytic types. They also tend to be more stable over variations in temperature.