DC 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
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 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

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 Parametric voltage regulator

Zener Diode

relative regulation factor of ZD

∆vZ
rz
FZ =
VZ FZ =
∆iZ rZ
IZ 3/20
Regulation region of ZD

Pd max
I Z max =
VZ

I Z min < I Z < I Z max

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 Parametric voltage regulator
The parametric regulator uses as operating principle
the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of the ZD.

• Size R
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 Parametric voltage regulator –
R value
VZ VZ
I O min = I O max =
R L max RL min
v I − VZ
iZ = − IO
R
vImax − VZ
Worst case for maxim iZ: iZ max = − I O min
Rmin
vImax − VZ vImin − VZ
Rmin = Rmax =
I Z max + I O min I Z min + I O max

R ∈ (Rmin; Rmax)
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 Shortcoming of the parametric voltage
regulator. Solution
Shortcoming:
Narrow range of IO
iZ = i R − I O
Solution:
Voltage follower:
IO increases, RO decreases

Voltage follower vO = vI Voltage regulator VO = VREF

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Voltage follower Voltage regulator
with BJT, CC
VO = VREF − vBE

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 BJT voltage regulator
T – pass transistor

VO = VREF − vBE
IO
iZ = i R −
β
vBE makes the regulation performances worse

Regulation mechanism of VO:

VO ↓ I O ↓ I B ↓ iZ ↑ VZ ↑ VO ↑
NF mechanism 9/20
 Op-amp voltage regulators
VO = VREF

A better regulation is provided if R is replaced by a current source

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 Op-amp voltage regulators
VO > VREF

 R2 
VO=? VO = 1 + VREF
 R1 
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Op-amp voltage regulators
VO < VREF Consider that
VREF is given

R2
VO=? VO = VREF
R1 + R2
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 Op-amp voltage regulators
Adjustable VO

 R2 
VO min = 1 + VREF
 P + R1 
VO=?
 R2 + P 
VO max = 1 + VREF
 R1 
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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

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I O max = βI O ,OA max

T – pass transistor

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 Overcurrent and shortcircuit protection
RL → 0 IO → ∞ The current must be limited:
• oversee IO
• when IO exceeds a default value , protection circuit goes on
RP I O < 0.6V ; TP − (off ) ; I P = 0
RP I O ≈ 0.6V ; TP − (a F ) ; 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 ↓
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The output characteristic

0.6V 1 0.6V 0.6V

I Osc = + I O ,OA max − ≈ + I O ,OA max
RP β RP RP
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Selecting the pass transistor
v I ∈ (VImin ; VImax )
maximum collector current I O max
maximum collector-emitter voltage VCE max = VImax
power dissipated by transistor PdT ≈ I CVCE
maximum power dissipated by transistor
PdT max ≈ max( I O max (VImax − VO ); I OscVImax )
The transistor is selected so that:
I C max > 2 I O max
VCE 0 > VCE max
Pd max 0 ≥ PdT max without heatsink
Pd max r ≥ PdT max with heatsink
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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 
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Example

VO range ?
VO (I O ) considering the tap to the lower end
Maximum power dissipated by T1 for RL = 2k; RL = 25Ω

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