EE2204 – Analog Electronic II
Chapter 4
Voltage Regulators
By
Abreha Teklu
Introduction
Batteries are often shown on a schematic diagram as the
source of DC voltage but usually the actual DC voltage
source is a power supply.
There are many types of power supplies. Most are designed
to convert high voltage AC mains electricity to a suitable
low voltage supply for electronics circuits and other devices.
A more reliable method of obtaining DC power is to
transform, rectify, filter and regulate an AC line voltage.
A power supply can by broken down into a series of blocks,
each of which performs a particular function.
Power Supplies
For example a 5V regulated supply
Power Supplies
Transformer
Power Supplies
Transformer
Transformers convert AC electricity from one voltage to
another with little loss of power.
Transformers work only with AC and this is one of the
reasons why mains electricity is AC.
Step-up transformers increase voltage.
Step-down transformers reduce voltage.
Power Supplies
Rectifier
Produces full-wave varying DC.
A bridge rectifier can be made using four individual diodes,
but it is also available in special packages containing the
four diodes required.
Power Supplies
Smoothing/filter
Power Supplies
Regulator
Voltage regulator ICs are available with fixed
(typically 5, 12 and 15V) or variable output voltages.
Power Supplies
Regulator - Zener diode regulator
For low current power supplies - a simple voltage regulator
can be made with a resistor and a zener diode connected
in reverse as shown in the diagram.
Zener diodes are rated by their breakdown voltage Vz and
maximum power Pz (typically 400mW or 1.3W).
Voltage Regulation
Line regulation is the maintenance of a specific output
voltage despite changes in input voltage.
How well a regulator performs line regulation can be
determined by the formula below.
Vout
Line Regulation = 100%
Vin
Voltage Regulation
Load regulation is the maintenance of a precise output
voltage despite changes in load resistance.
How well a regulator performs load regulation can be
determined by the formula below.
VNL VFL
Load Regulation = 100%
VFL
Types of Regulator
• Series Regulator
• Shunt Regulator
• Switching Regulator
Basic Series Regulators
With series regulation the control element
is in series with the input and output.
Basic Series Regulators
The zener diode sets the reference voltage for the noninverting input
of the op-amp. Any changes in the output are fed back to the
inverting input of the op-amp.
The difference voltage output of the op-amp biases the transistor to
correct the output voltage for the overall circuit.
R
Vout 1 2 VREF
R3
Basic Series Regulators
Overload protection for a series regulator protects the control
element in the case of a short.
Q2 is biased by the voltage drop across R4.
When load current exceeds the predetermined level, Q2 diverts
current from the base of Q1 causing Q1 to conduct less.
Basic Series Regulators
Fold-back current limiting allows operation up to peak load
current.
With a shorted output the current is dropped to a lower value
(folded back).
VR5 + VBE must be overcome before Q2 conducts to limit
current.
Basic Shunt Regulators
In shunt regulation the control
element is in parallel with the load.
Basic Shunt Regulators
In shunt regulation the control
element is in parallel with the load.
Basic Switching Regulators
The switching regulator is more efficient than the linear
series or shunt type.
This type regulator is ideal for high current applications since
less power is dissipated.
Voltage regulation in a switching regulator is achieved by the
on and off action limiting the amount of current flow based
on the varying line and load conditions.
With switching regulators 90% efficiencies can be achieved.
Basic Switching Regulators
With the step-down (output is less than the input) configuration
the control element Q1 is pulsed on and off at variable rate
based on the load current.
The pulsations are filtered out by the LC filter.
Basic Switching Regulators
The step-up configuration works much the same as the step-
down.
The difference is in the placement of the inductor and the fact
that Q1 is shunt configured.
During the time when Q1 is off the VL adds to VC stepping the
voltage up by some amount.
Basic Switching Regulators
With the voltage-inverter configuration the output voltage
output is of opposite polarity of the input.
This is achieved by VL forward-biasing reverse-biased diode
during the off times producing current and charging the
capacitor for voltage production during the off times.
With switching regulators 90% efficiencies can be achieved.
IC Regulators
IC Regulators
Regulation circuits in integrated circuit form are widely
used.
Their operation is no different but they are treated as a
single device with associated components.
These are generally three terminal devices that provide a
positive or negative output.
Some types are have variable voltage outputs.
IC Regulators
A typical 7800 series voltage regulator is used for positive
voltages.
The 7900 series are negative voltage regulators.
These voltage regulators when used with heatsinks can
safely produce current values of 1A and greater.
The capacitors act as line filtration.
IC Regulators
Adjustable IC regulators are available with either positive or
negative output.
They can be set to produce a specific voltage by way of an
external reference voltage divider network.
Switching regulators are also available in IC form.
IC Regulators
To increase the current capability of an IC regulator
an external pass transistor can be used.
IC Regulators
A current limiting circuit similar to the one discussed
earlier can be used to protect the external pass transistor.
Summary
Voltage regulators keep a constant dc output despite
input voltage or load changes.
The two basic categories of voltage regulators are linear
and switching.
The two types of linear voltage regulators are series and
shunt.
The three types of switching are step-up, step-down,
and inverting.
Switching regulators are more efficient than linear
making them ideal for low voltage high current
applications.
Summary
IC regulators are available with fixed positive or negative
output voltages or variable negative or positive output
voltages.
Both linear and switching type regulators are available
in IC form.
Current capacity of a voltage regulator can be increased
with an external pass transistor.
