SLVS044Y September 1997 – April 2020 LM317
PRODUCTION DATA.
The capacitor C1, in combination with the PNP transistor, helps the circuit to slowly start supplying voltage. In the beginning, the capacitor is not charged. Therefore output voltage starts at VC1+ VBE + 1.25 V = 0 V + 0.65 V + 1.25 V = 1.9 V. As the capacitor voltage rises, VOUT rises at the same rate. When the output voltage reaches the value determined by R1 and R2, the PNP will be turned off.