LM10 Current Regulator

Current regulator acts like a load when connected to a voltage source, or in series between voltage source and real load. The main characteristic of a current regulator circuit is that it will try to keep the current flowing through it to be constant, by dynamically adjusting its self resistance. The schematic diagram below show the circuit:

The current will be maintained to be (R2+R3)Vref/(R1R3), where Vref is a reference voltage provided by LM10 in at pin 1. Since pin 8 (reference feedback) is directly connected to pin 1 (reference output), then Vref will be 200mV (equal to its internal reference). [Circuit’s schematic diagram source: National Semiconductor Application Note]