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Linear or LDO Regulators & Step-Down Switching Regulators

This document compares linear regulators and switching regulators. Linear regulators are simpler and cheaper but less efficient, with efficiency below 25% for a typical setup. Switching regulators have higher efficiency around 90% and produce less heat, important for battery life. While more complex, switching regulators are better for applications where efficiency and battery life are primary concerns.

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170 views2 pages

Linear or LDO Regulators & Step-Down Switching Regulators

This document compares linear regulators and switching regulators. Linear regulators are simpler and cheaper but less efficient, with efficiency below 25% for a typical setup. Switching regulators have higher efficiency around 90% and produce less heat, important for battery life. While more complex, switching regulators are better for applications where efficiency and battery life are primary concerns.

Uploaded by

kasim lee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Aivaka WHITE PAPER

Linear or LDO Regulators & Step-Down Switching Regulators

Step-down voltage regulators used in electronic devices can be categorized into two separate classes:
linear regulators and switching or DC-DC regulators. A linear or an LDO (Low Drop-Out) regulator is in
effect a variable resistor that is placed between the input power source (i.e. battery) and the load in order
to drop and control the voltage applied to the load. Linear regulators have continuous operation, are
typically easier to use, and are definitely a cheaper solution than any DC-DC regulator. Switching
regulators provide the highest efficiency and produce the least amount of heat in a system. Therefore,
switching regulators are suitable for applications where battery life and heat are important concerns.
Efficiency of a regulator is defined as the ratio of output power provided by the regulator to the input power
delivered into the regulator and is calculated from:

POUT VOUT I OUT


η= =
PIN VIN I IN

Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a linear regulator with a resistive load RLoad. Linear
regulators provide the most economical solution and are widely available from numerous vendors. Since
the input current into a linear regulator is essentially identical to the output current (IIN = IOUT) then,
efficiency of any linear regulator can be set by:

POUT VOUT I OUT VOUT


η= = =
PIN VIN I IN VIN

Simply put, efficiency of a linear regulator is set by ratio of VOUT/VIN. Since the current consumed within
the regulator is ignored, efficiency of a linear or LDO regulator is always LESS than VOUT/VIN. So, for a
VIN=4V input VOUT=1V, the efficiency is always less than 25% and over 75% of the power provided by a
source such as a battery is wasted and converted into HEAT. Efficiency of a linear regulator “looks” better
when the difference between VOUT and VIN is reduced such that VOUT ≈VIN (and VOUT/VIN ≈1).

IIN

L INEAR R EGULATOR
(LDO)
EA
C ONTROL IOUT
C IRCUITS VOUT

R L OAD

Figure 1. Simplified Block Diagram of a Linear or LDO Regulator.

Contact Information: +1 408-224-5505 [email protected] www.Aivaka.com

Rev. WP1 08.07 1 8/24/07


Aivaka WHITE PAPER

Linear or LDO Regulators & Step-Down Switching Regulators

Unlike linear regulators, switching regulators have non-continuous operation. Figure 2 shows a simplified
block diagram of a synchronous step-down (Buck) switching regulator. Switches S1 and S2 are operated
in a non-overlapping manner to create a digital pulse (VA) that varies from zero to VIN. This generated
pulse (VA) is filtered by off-chip passive components such as inductors and capacitors to produce a
constant DC voltage at the output. This loss-less filter can be integrated in the same package along with
the die to create a hybrid SiP or module solution.

Switching converters can have efficiencies in the range of 90% independent of input and output voltage
ratios and are typically used in applications where efficiency (or battery life) is the most important concern.
However, when they are compared to linear or LDO regulators, they cost more and are harder to
implement.

IIN

L OSS-L ESS
B UCK R EGULATOR F ILTER
VIN S1 VOUT
VA IOUT
C ONTROL
C IRCUITS

S2
R L OAD

VA

VOUT

Figure 2. Simplified Diagram of a Buck Switching Regulator.

Assuming no loss in a switching Buck regulator (100% efficiency), the following relationship would be
accurate:

VOUT I OUT
V IN I IN = VOUT I OUT ⇒ I IN =
VIN

If a battery with 1000mAh (Milliamp Hour) capacity and an average voltage of 3V were used to power a
100mA load at 1V, the battery would last approximately 30 hours with a switching regulator. If a linear
regulator were used in the same system, the battery would last less than 10 hours. This would be a 3X
improvement in operating time and 3X reduction in generated heat and power loss. Reducing the heat in
a portable device would in turn help to prolong the battery life as well since the excess heat will often
degrade the performance of the battery.

Contact Information: +1 408-224-5505 [email protected] www.Aivaka.com

Rev. WP1 08.07 2 8/24/07

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