Electronics

Principles & Applications

Sixth Edition

Charles A. Schuler
Chapter 15
Regulated
Power Supplies

©2003 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
 INTRODUCTION
• Open-Loop Voltage Regulation
• Closed-Loop Voltage Regulation
• Current and Voltage Limiting
• Switch-Mode Regulators
• Troubleshooting
Reverse Bias
in Volts 6 4 2 0

20
40
60 Reverse
V current
I 100
80 in mA

120
140

V The voltage across a conducting

zener is relatively constant.
Using a Zener Diode as a Voltage Regulator

Unregulated Supply
Load

The load is in parallel with the zener and

will see a relatively constant voltage as
long as the zener is conducting.
 Series Pass Transistor

VBE
Unregulated Supply Load

The amplified zener regulator is used when large

load currents are required. The voltage regulation
of this circuit is fair since VBE is relatively constant.
Closed-loop is required for demanding applications.

VOUT
Error
Amplifier

If VOUT decreases, the amplifier

output goes more positive to increase
the drive to the pass transistor.
 The pass transistor, reference, and 7805
error amplifier are inside IC regulators.
IC voltage regulators have modest current limits.
This circuit extends their capabilities.
PNP Current Boost Transistor

R
7805

When the drop across R Load

reaches 0.7 volts, the
boost transistor turns on.
This current limit circuit protects the pass transistor.

R2

Current-limit
Transistor

7812
R1
Load
When the drop across R2 reaches
0.7 V, the current limit transistor
turns on and shunts R1.
VOUT Conventional Current Limiting

Constant current
region

IL

Short circuit
 VOUT Foldback Current Limiting

Foldback current
region

IL

Short circuit
 Foldback Current Limiting
Q1
R2
+Vin
R3
R5
R1 R4

RL
Q2
R7 R6

VZ
Parallel transistors need emitter swamping
resistors to ensure current sharing.
Fuse

If the zener
conducts, the
SCR turns on and
blows the fuse.

7812

Crowbar Over-voltage Protection Circuit

 Linear Power Supply Quiz
Pass transistors are connected in
__________ with the load. series
IC regulators can provide more current with
the addition of a __________ transistor. boost

The two types of current limiting

are conventional and __________. foldback
Emitter swamping resistors force parallel
transistors to share __________. current
Crowbar circuits are used to protect
a load from excess __________. voltage
Power supplies with pass transistors are linear and
are not as efficient as switch-mode power supplies.
PC = IC x VCE (The heat loss in a
pass transistor can be significant.)
Recall: Pulse width modulation (PWM) is one way
to use a digital approach to an analog problem.

PWM
Average
value
 Switch-mode Power Supply

VIN

VLOAD

PWM
Step-down configuration
VLOAD < VIN
 Switch-mode Power Supply

CEMF
VIN

VLOAD

PWM

Step-up configuration
VLOAD > VIN
 Switch-mode Power Supply

VIN

CEMF VLOAD

PWM
Inverting configuration
Converter-type Switch-mode Supply

OSC. &
PWM VREF
 Switch-mode Quiz
Switch-mode supplies have better
__________ than linear supplies. efficiency
Switch-mode supplies use pulse
width __________. modulation

A higher voltage is provided by

the __________ configuration. step-up
The opposite polarity is provided
by the __________ configuration. inverting
A push-pull arrangement is common
in __________ type power supplies. converter
 Linear Supply Troubleshooting
• A shorted pass transistor produces high
output voltage.
• An open pass transistor produces no
output voltage.
• Voltage error can be due to overloads, the
reference voltage, the error amplifier, etc.
• IC regulators can oscillate. Check bypass
capacitors.
• IC regulators are subject to RF fields.
Flyback Switching Power Supply
Flyback Supply Waveforms
 Switch-Mode Troubleshooting
• May not function unless loaded (use a
dummy load).
• Use oscilloscope to view PWM
waveforms.
• Frequency can be critical.
• May use an optoisolator in the feedback
circuit. Disable and substitute for the
feedback signal.
• Check the reference voltage.
• Check for overloads.
 REVIEW
• Open-Loop Voltage Regulation
• Closed-Loop Voltage Regulation
• Current and Voltage Limiting
• Switch-Mode Regulators
• Troubleshooting