National Semiconductor
The adjustable low-dropout regulator debuted on April 12, 1977 in an "Electronic Design" article entitled ""Break Loose from Fixed IC Regulators". The article was written by Robert Dobkin, an IC designer then working for National Semiconductor. Because of this, National Semiconductor claims the title of "LDO inventor"". Dobkin later left National Semiconductor in 1981 and founded Linear Technology where he was the chief technology officer.