Voltage Regulator

Voltage Regulator
In electronics, a linear regulator is a component used to maintain a steady voltage.

The resistance of the regulator varies in accordance with the load resulting in a constant
output voltage. In contrast, the switching regulator is nothing more than just a simple
switch. This switch goes on and off at a fixed rate usually between 50 kHz to 100 kHz as
set by the circuit. The regulating device is made to act like a variable resistor,
continuously adjusting a voltage divider network to maintain a constant output voltage.
The primary advantage of a switching regulator over linear regulator is very high
efficiency, a lot less heat and smaller size.
Overview
The transistor (or other device) is used as one half of a potential divider to
establish the regulated output voltage. The output voltage is compared to a reference
voltage to produce a control signal to the transistor which will drive its gate or base. With
negative feedback and good choice of compensation, the output voltage is kept
reasonably constant. Linear regulators are often inefficient: since the transistor is acting
like a resistor, it will waste electrical energy by converting it to heat. In fact, the power
loss due to heating in the transistor is the current times the voltage dropped across the
transistor. The same function can often be performed much more efficiently by a
switched-mode power supply, but a linear regulator may be preferred for light loads or
where the desired output voltage approaches the source voltage. In these cases, the linear
regulator may dissipate less power than a switcher. The linear regulator also has the
advantage of not requiring magnetic devices (inductors or transformers) which can be
relatively expensive or bulky, being often of simpler design, and being quieter.
Linear regulators exist in two basic forms: series regulators and shunt regulators.
 Series regulators are the more common form. The series regulator works by
providing a path from the supply voltage to the load through a variable resistance
(the main transistor is in the "top half" of the voltage divider). The power
dissipated by the regulating device is equal to the power supply output current
times the voltage drop in the regulating device.
 The shunt regulator works by providing a path from the supply voltage to ground
through a variable resistance (the main transistor is in the "bottom half" of the
voltage divider). The current through the shunt regulator is diverted away from
the load and flows uselessly to ground, making this form even less efficient than
the series regulator. It is, however, simpler, sometimes consisting of just a
voltage-reference diode, and is used in very low-powered circuits where the
wasted current is too small to be of concern. This form is very common for
voltage reference circuits.
All linear regulators require an input voltage at least some minimum amount higher
than the desired output voltage. That minimum amount is called the dropout voltage. For
example, a common regulator such as the 7805 has an output voltage of 5V, but can only
maintain this if the input voltage remains above about 7V, before the output voltage
begins sagging below the rated output. Its dropout voltage is therefore 7V - 5V = 2V.
When the supply voltage is less than about 2V above the desired output voltage, as is the
case in low-voltage microprocessor power supplies, so-called low dropout regulators
(LDOs) must be used.
When one wants an output voltage higher than the available input voltage, no linear
regulator will work (not even an LDO). In this situation, a switching regulator must be
used.
Fixed Voltage Regulator
"Fixed" three-terminal linear regulators are commonly available to generate fixed

voltages of plus 3 V, and plus or minus 5 V, 6V, 9 V, 12 V, or 15 V when the load is less
than 1.5 amperes.
The "78xx" series (7805, 7812, etc.) regulate positive voltages while the "79xx"
series (7905, 7912, etc.) regulate negative voltages. Often, the last two digits of the
device number are the output voltage; e.g., a 7805 is a +5 V regulator, while a 7915 is a
-15 V regulator. There are variants on the 78xx series ICs, such as 78L and 78S, some of
which can supply up to 1.5 Amps
Connection diagram
Pin Diagram
Adjustable regulators
Product Launch
The adjustable linear regulator IC still in use today first debuted on April 12, 1977
in an Electronic Design article entitled "Break Loose from Fixed IC Regulators". The
article was written by Robert Dobkin, an IC designer then working for National
Semiconductor. Dobkin later left National in 1981 to found Linear Technology where he
is currently chief technology officer.
Operation
For output voltages not provided by standard fixed regulators and load currents of
less than 7 amperes, commonly available "adjustable" three-terminal linear regulators
may be used. An adjustable regulator generates a fixed low nominal voltage between its
output and its 'adjust' terminal (equivalent to the ground terminal in a fixed regulator).
The "317" series (+1.25V) regulates positive voltages while the "337" series (-1.25V)
regulates negative voltages. A filter capacitor must be placed on the input to the regulator
to help filter out the 60 cycle ripple.
he adjustment is performed by constructing a potential divider with its ends between the
regulator output and ground, and its centre-tap connected to the 'adjust' terminal of the
regulator. The ratio of resistances determines the output voltage using the same feedback
mechanisms described earlier.
Circuit diagram
Pin Diagram
Complex power requirements (e.g., op-amp circuits needing matched positive and
negative DC supplies) are more difficult, but single IC dual tracking adjustable regulators
are available. Some even have selectable current limiting as well. An example is the 419x
series.
Note that some regulators, like the LM317, require a minimum load.

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Voltage Regulator

In electronics, a linear regulator is a component used to maintain a steady voltage.

"Fixed" three-terminal linear regulators are commonly available to generate fixed

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