SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

• A shunt voltage regulator provides regulation by shunting current away from the load to regulate the
output voltage.
• Figure shows the block diagram of such a voltage regulator. The input unregulated voltage provides
current to the load.
• Some of the current is pulled away by the control element to maintain the regulated output voltage across
the load.
• If the load voltage tries to change due to a change in the load, the sampling circuit provides a feedback
signal to a comparator, which then provides a control signal to vary the amount of the current shunted
away from the load.
• As the output voltage tries to get larger, for example, the sampling circuit provides a feedback signal to the
comparator circuit, which then provides a control signal to draw increased shunt current, providing less
load current, thereby keeping the regulated voltage from rising.
BASIC TRANSISTOR SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

• A simple shunt regulator circuit is shown.

• Resistor RS drops the unregulated voltage by an amount that depends on the current supplied to the load, RL.
• The voltage across the load is set by the Zener diode and transistor base-emitter voltage.
• If the load resistance decreases, a reduced drive current to the base of Q1 results, shunting less collector current.
• The load current is thus larger, thereby maintaining the regulated voltage across the load.
• The output voltage to the load is
PROBLEM: Determine the regulated voltage and circuit currents for the shunt regulator of

SOLUTION:
IMPROVED SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR

• The circuit of Figure shows an improved shunt voltage regulator circuit.

• The Zener diode provides a reference voltage so that the voltage across R1 senses the output
voltage.
• As the output voltage tries to change, the current shunted by transistor Q1 is varied to maintain
the output voltage constant.
• Transistor Q2 provides a larger base current to transistor Q1 than the circuit of Figure, so that the
regulator handles a larger load current.
• The output voltage is set by the Zener voltage and that across the two transistor base–emitters,
SHUNT VOLTAGE REGULATOR USING OP-AMP

• Figure shows another version of a shunt voltage regulator using an op-amp as voltage
comparator.
• The Zener voltage is compared to the feedback voltage obtained from voltage divider R1
and R2 to provide the control drive current to shunt element Q1.
• The current through resistor RS is thus controlled to drop a voltage across RS so that the
output voltage is maintained.
 IC VOLTAGE REGULATOR

• Regulator IC units contain the circuitry for reference source, comparator amplifier, control device, and overload protection
all in a single IC.
• IC units provide regulation of either a fixed positive voltage, a fixed negative voltage, or an adjustably set voltage.
• The regulators can be selected for operation with load currents from hundreds of milliamperes to tens of amperes,
corresponding to power ratings from milliwatts to tens of watts.

Three-Terminal Voltage Regulators

• Figure shows the basic connection of a
three-terminal voltage regulator IC to a
load.
• The fixed voltage regulator has an
unregulated dc input voltage V i
applied to one input terminal, a
regulated output dc voltage V o from a
second terminal, and the third
terminal connected to ground.

• For a selected regulator, IC device specifications list a voltage range over which the input voltage can vary to maintain a
regulated output voltage over a range of load current.
• The specifications also list the amount of output voltage change resulting from a change in load current (load
regulation) or in input voltage (line regulation).
Fixed-Positive-Voltage Regulators
• The series 78 regulators provide fixed regulated voltages from 5 V to 24 V.
• Figure shows how one such IC, a 7812, is connected to provide voltage regulation with output from this unit of 12 V dc.
• An unregulated input voltage V i is filtered by capacitor C1 and connected to the IC’s IN terminal.
• The IC’s OUT terminal provides a regulated 12 V, which is filtered by capacitor C2 (mostly for any high-frequency noise).
The third IC terminal is connected to ground (GND).
• Whereas the input voltage may vary over some permissible voltage range and the output load may vary over some
acceptable range, the output voltage remains constant within specified voltage variation limits.
• These limitations are spelled out in the manufacturer’s specification sheets. A table of positive-voltage regulator ICs is
provided in Table.
Fixed-Negative-Voltage Regulators
• The series 7900 ICs provide negative-voltage regulators, similar to those providing positive voltages.
• A list of negative-voltage regulator ICs is provided in Table. As shown, IC regulators are available for a range of fixed negative
voltages, the selected IC providing the rated output voltage as long as the input voltage is maintained greater than the
minimum input value.
• For example, the 7912 provides an output of -12 V as long as the input to the regulator IC is more negative than -14.6 V.
• The connection of a 7812 in a complete voltage supply is shown in the connection of Fig. 15.27 . The ac line voltage (120 V
rms) is stepped down to 18 V rms across each half of the center-tapped transformer. A full-wave rectifier and capacitor filter
then provides an unregulated dc voltage, shown as a dc voltage of about 22 V, with ac ripple of a few volts as input to the
voltage regulator. The 7812 IC then provides an output that is a regulated 12 V dc.
SMPS
• SMPS is Switched Mode Power Supply.
• SMPS is an electronic power supply system that makes use of a switching regulator to transfer electrical power effectively. It
is a PSU (power supply unit) and is usually used in computers to change the voltage to the appropriate range for the
computer.
• An SMPS adjusts output voltage and current between different electrical configurations by switching the basics of typically
lossless storage such as capacitors and inductors.
• Ideal switching concepts determined by transistors controlled outside of their active state that have no resistance when ‘on’
and carry no current when ‘off.’ It is the idea why switches with an ideal function will operate with 100 per cent output, that
is, all input energy is provided to the load; no power is wasted as dissipated heating. In fact, such ideal systems do not exist,
which is why a switching power source can not be 100 per cent proficient, but it is still a vital improvement in effectiveness
over a linear regulator.
A Switch-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) is a power supply unit that uses switching regulators to convert electrical power
efficiently. Unlike traditional linear power supplies, which use linear regulation to maintain a stable output voltage, SMPSs
use high-frequency switching and energy storage components like inductors and capacitors to achieve voltage regulation.

Key features of SMPS include:

1. Efficiency: SMPSs are typically more efficient than linear power supplies, often achieving efficiencies of 80% or higher.
This efficiency is due to reduced power dissipation and less heat generation.
2. Compact Size: Due to their efficiency and the use of high-frequency switching, SMPSs can be much smaller and lighter
than linear power supplies.
3. Wide Input Range: They can handle a wide range of input voltages, making them versatile for various applications.
4. Regulation: They provide stable output voltages with minimal fluctuation, even when the input voltage or load changes.

SMPSs are commonly used in computers, telecommunications equipment, and many electronic devices due to their
reliability and efficiency.