VOLTAGE REGULATORS

• Unregulated Power Supply

• RC Filter
• Series Voltage Regulators
• Shunt Voltage Regulators
• Voltage Regulators IC

1
Unregulated Power Supply
Power supply is a circuit that provides a steady dc voltage obtained by rectifying the
ac voltage. The following is the block diagram of a power supply stage.

Step-down Ripple Voltage Load using

transformer Rectifier
Filter regulator dc voltage

High ac Low ac High ripple Low ripple Pure constant

voltage voltage dc voltage dc voltage dc voltage

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Ripple and dc voltage
VO ΔV= - m2t2 ΔV= m1t1

ΔV is higher
for high Idc

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 Ripple Factor VO ΔV= - m2t2 ΔV= m1t1

Example:
Given the Power supply circuit shown,
find (a) output dc voltage Vdc (b)
output ripple voltage Vr (rms) (c) ripple
factor “r”

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RC Filter in Power Supply

VC1 VC2

t
Idc t

Vdc1 R CR2LVdc2 RL

V1(rms) V2(rms)
VC1 VC2
R
C2 RL
t t

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Series Voltage Regulators

Series voltage regulator

Vi Vo Regulated power supply

R RL

Unregulated power supply VZ

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Example:
Given the Series regulator circuit shown, find (a) output dc voltage V o (b) Zener
current IZ

β=50

Vi - Vo=?
20V 0.7V
+
R + RL
0.22kΩ
-1kΩ
+
VZ IZ=?
12V -

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Improved Series Regulator
Analysis of the Improved Series Regulator

+ VCE1 - IL IL
Vi Q1 Vo
+
IB1 IR1 + RL
R4
IR4
VB1
R1
-
IC2 VZ -
Q2
- +
+ +
0.7V R3 R2
- -

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IC Series Regulator

IC Series Regulator
Vi
Vo
R3 R1
Ii=0
+ VZ
R2 RL
VZ VZ
−

Ii=0
Because Ii=0, a small power Zener
may be used to regulate the whole
load current in RL

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Current-limiting IC Series Regulator
Analysis of the Circuit
RSC High IL IL
Vi Q1
+ I − + + V
o
L
R3 IB1 − R1
Ii=0 Q 2
−
+ + IC2 VZ + RL
VZ R2
VZ
− − IO − −

Ii=0

1. Vi and R3 will produce regulated voltage VZ

2. Because of the Op. Amp. Property, VZ will present at the junction of R1 and R2

3. VZ=VR2 will result Vo which will be higher than

VZ
4. Normal value of IL will produce normal VBE at Q2 whose collector current is small so
that Io from IC will go mostly to IB1
5. High value of IL will produce high VBE at
Q2
6. Q2 collector current IC2 becomes large so that Io from IC will go mostly to IC2
reducing IB1 and consequently IL down to the limited current value.

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Shunt Voltage Regulators

Shunt voltage regulator

+ s −
R
Vi Vo Regulated power supply
+ +
Vo = VZ+VBE = Regulated
VZ RL voltage
−
+ −
Unregulated power supply
VBE −

VRs = Vi – VZ – VBE which is constant if Vi is constant

IRs = (VRs/Rs) is also constant
IC = IRs will all flow through BJT (when no load RL and BJT is
hot)
if load RL is connected IRs will mostly drain by the load RL
making IC small (when there is load BJT is cold)
Therefore Shunt Regulators are suitable to supply
circuits where RL is always connected.
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 IC Shunt Voltage Regulator

IC Shunt voltage regulator

Vi
Vo
Rs +
Regulated power supply
R3
VZ R1 RL
Unregulated power supply Ii=0
+ −
VZ VZ R2
−
Ii=0

Because Ii=0, a small power Zener

may be used to regulate the whole
load current in RL VRs = Vi – Vo which is constant if Vi is constant
IRs = (VRs/Rs) is also constant
IC = IRs will all flow through BJT (when no load RL and BJT is
hot) if load RL is connected IRs will mostly drain by the load RL
making IC small (when there is load BJT is cold)

Therefore Shunt Regulators are suitable to supply

circuits where RL is always connected.

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Voltage Regulator IC
Fixed Positive Voltage Regulator IC
Voltage regulator IC
+Vi Vo=+12V
Regulated power supply +12V
1 2
7812
C2 RL

Unregulated power supply 3

C1 is a ripple filter
capacitor (C1 > 100μF)
C2 is a high frequency
filter (C2 < 0.1μF)
IC Part Number Output Voltage Min input Voltage
7805 +5V +7.3V
7806 +6V +8.3V
7808 +8V +10.5V
7810 +10V +12.5V
7812 +12V 14.6V
7815 +15V +17.7V
7818 +18V +21V
7824 +24V +27.1V
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Example:
Given the IC regulator circuit shown, 7805 requires a minimum input voltage of
7.3V. (a) find the maximum load current IL that can be used. (b) if a maximum load
current IL = 500mA is required, what is the size of the filter capacitor? Take ac
supply frequency 50Hz.
Voltage regulator IC
+Vi=15Vmax Vo=+5V
1 2
7805 IL = ?
C1 = 250μF

Unregulated power supply 3

15V

7.3V

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 Fixed Negative Voltage Regulator IC

Voltage regulator IC
-Vi Vo=-12V
Regulated power supply -12V
1 2
7912
C2 RL

Unregulated power supply 3

C1 is a ripple filter
capacitor (C1 > 100μF)
C2 is a high frequency
IC Part Number Output Voltage Min input Voltage
filter (C2 < 0.1μF)
7905 -5V -7.3V
7906 -6V -8.3V
7908 -8V -10.5V
7910 -10V -12.5V
7912 -12V -14.6V
7915 -15V -17.7V
7918 -18V -21V
7924 -24V -27.1V

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Adjustable Voltage Regulator IC
The IC regulator LM317 can be used to produce any regulated output voltage
between 1.2V to 37V. Typical IC values are: Vref = 1.25V and Iadj = 100μA

Adjustable Voltage regulator IC

-Vi 1.2V < Vo< 37V
VIN LM317 VOUT

R1
ADJ

Iadj = 100μA
R2
Vref = 1.25V

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 Analysis of the LM317 IC Regulator circuit

1. Unregulated power supply enters LM317 with a dc voltage of V IN and a ripple

peak-to-peak voltage of ΔV=Vmax-Vmin depending upon the value of C1 and IL used.

1.25V IL
VIN LM317 VOUT

R1
ADJ

2. Note that LM317 data are Vref = 1.25V and 100μA C 3 RL

Iadj = 100μA and will produce a regulated dc R2
C2
voltage VOUT determined by R1 and R2

3. Unwanted voltage spikes are suppressed by the two diodes connected from
VOUT to ADJ and VIN terminals of the IC.

4. C2 is a ripple filter across R2 .

5. C3 is unwanted high-frequency low capacitance bypass capacitor which

is always necessary at the output of all regulator circuits.

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Example:
Given the LM317 IC regulator circuit shown, (a) find the maximum load current I L
that can be used, if a ripple of peak-to-peak voltage of 2V is present at the input
of the regulator. (b) what is the output voltage of the variable IC regulator if R 1 =
0.1kΩ and R2= 1kΩ ? Take ac supply frequency 50Hz.

1.25V IL
VIN LM317 VOUT

R1
ADJ

100μA C 3 RL
R2
C2

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