Voltage Regulators

A voltage regulator is an electronic circuit which maintains the

output voltage (almost) constant in spite of changes within some
specified limits in the load current, input voltage, temperature, etc.

VO = vI – vregulator
 Regulator types

• Parametric regulators (with ZD, without active devices)

• Linear voltage regulators (contain active devices) – the
transistors that adjust the output voltage to the default value
operate in the linear regime (permanent conduction).
• Switching voltage regulators (contain active devices) – the
main transistors that adjust the output voltage to the default
value operate in switching regime, generally at a frequency
≥ 20KHz
Op-amp voltage regulators

A reference voltage is always needed in a voltage regulator

VO  VREF
A better regulation can be provided
if R is replaced by a current source
Op-amp voltage regulators
VO  VREF

 R2 
VO=? VO  1  VREF
 R1 
Op-amp voltage regulators

VO  VREF Consider that

VREF is given

R2
VO=? VO  VREF
R1  R2
Op-amp voltage regulators

Adjustable VO VO  VREF

 R2 
VO min  1  VREF
 P  R1 
VO=?
 R2  P 
VO max  1  VREF
 R1 
Increasing the output current

I O max  I O,OA max

For common use op amp:

I O,OA max  20mA

? Higher current in the load

Solutions:
• power op amp; e.g. TDA2030, up to 3.5A
• current amplifier between op amp and load (transistor)
 BJT in permanent conduction (aF)
npn pnp
vBE

vBE vBE  0.6V, T  (aF )

vBE  0.6V, T  (aF )
vBE  0.6V, T  (off )
vBE  0.6V, T  (off )

iE =iC+iB Always valid

In the active region (aF) iC=βiB β = 100 – as a rough guide

1  1
iE  iC  iC  iC 1    iC iE≈iC
  
iE=(β+1)iB ≈βiB
BJT in (aF) in a circuit

vBE  0.6V, T  (aF )

vI  vBE  vO vO  vI  vBE
vI  vBE
iE 
RE
vCE  VPS  vO  VPS  RE iE
 I O max  I O,OA max

T – series pass transistor

 Overcurrent and shortcircuit protection
RL  0 IO   The current must be limited:
• oversee IO
• when IO exceeds a default value, protection circuit triggers
RP I O  0.6V ; TP  (off ) ; I P  0
RP I O  0.6V ; TP  (aF ) ; I P  0

VRP
I O max   IP
RP
0,6V 0,6V
I O max   IP 
RP RP

When I O  I O max
RL , I O , I O RP , I P , I B , I O  VO 
 The output
characteristic
• voltage regulation region
VO
vO  VO , I O 
RL
0.6V
• knee point vO  VO , I O  I O max 
RP
• current 0.6V
v  VO , vO  I O RL , I O  I O max  I P 
limiting region O RP
• short-circuit point vO  0,
0.6V 1 0.6V 0.6V 0.6V
I O  I Osc   I O, AO max    I O, AO max 
RP  RP RP RP
Maximum values of voltage, current, and power for T

vI  VImin ; VImax 
• maximum collector current: I O max
• maximum collector-emitter voltage
VCE  VI  VRP  VO
VCEmax appears for short-circuit to the output
VCE max  VImax  VRP  VImax  0.6V  VImax
VCE max  VImax
• maximum power dissipated by the transistor
PdT  I CVCE
PdT max  I O maxVImax appears for short-circuit to the output
 Selecting the series pass transistor
In the transistor data-sheets we can find absolute maximum ratings for

• collector current I C max

• collector-emitter voltage VCE 0
• power Pd tot
T should be selected so that:
I C max  2 I O max
VCE 0  VCE max Pay attention for dissipated power. The value in
0.4P d tot  P dT max the data-sheet refers to the maximum power when
T is mounted on an infinite area heatsink. In
practice the maximum power to be consider is
Pdmax ≈ 0,4Pdtot (acceptable size heatsink).
Exercise

Consider the O.A. – ideal.

a)Find the expression and range of values in which VO can be adjusted if RL
is large enough to maintain Tp – off.
b)What components in the circuit compose the protection circuit?
c) What is the maximum value of the output current? Assume that the base
currents of T and Tp can be neglected. Assuming the cursor of P in the
middle, compute the maximum power dissipation on T for RL1=0.2 kΩ;
RL2=20 Ω; RL3=0 Ω.
Voltage reference

VREF  VZ 9  6.3
IZ    7.5mA
R3 374

 R2   2,67 
VREF 
 1  
VZ  1    6.2  9V
 R1   5.9 