UNIT-V IC Voltage Regulators

Voltage regulator ICs

 Importance of Voltage Regulator

• The block diagram of a regulated power supply is shown above.

• When the ac input voltage changes above or below its normal value, it will cause a
change in the voltage produced at the filter output.

• A similar change in dc voltage may also occur when the load resistance connected at the
filter output changes above or below its normal value.

• It means that the output voltage fluctuates or changes whenever the a.c. input voltage
or the load resistance varies above or below the normal values
• A fluctuating voltage may result in an erratic (inconsistent) operation of electronic
devices and circuits So, the circuit performance will degrade.

• If the variations are large enough, the components may get destroyed.

• In order to avoid fluctuations, a voltage regulator is used. The voltage regulator is

connected between the filter and the load.
 Voltage regulator
What is a voltage regulator?

• A voltage regulator is a circuit that provides a constant output dc voltage even

when
(i) Input voltage to the voltage regulator changes and

(ii) the load varies (load current varies)

• The basic block diagram of a voltage regulator is shown in the figure.

 Voltage Regulator

Voltage Regulator

Discrete Circuit Integrated Circuit

IC Voltage regulator

Voltage regulators are available in

integrated circuits (IC) forms. These
are called as voltage regulator ICs.
 IC Voltage Regulator

What is an IC voltage regulator?

• It is an integrated circuit that provides a constant output voltage even when

the input voltage to the regulator changes or load current changes.

• Voltage regulator IC gives low cost, high reliability, reduction in size and
excellent performance. [These are the advantages of IC voltage regulators]
 Basic Types of IC voltage Regulators
• There are two types of voltage regulators. . Fixed voltage regulator and Adjustable
voltage regulator
IC Voltage Regulators

Fixed IC voltage regulators Adjustable IC voltage regulators

Fixed positive IC Fixed Negative IC • An adjustable voltage regulator

voltage regulators voltage regulators produces an output voltage,
which can be adjusted to within a
certain range.
A fixed voltage regulator produces a
fixed DC output voltage
 Series OP-amp regulator
• A voltage regulator is a circuit that provides a stable dc voltage independent of the
load current and ac line voltage variations. The basic functional block diagram of a
voltage regulator IC is shown below.

• The figure shows a series op-amp

voltage regulator using discrete
components.

• The circuit consists of following 4

parts.

1. Reference voltage circuit

2. Error amplifier
3. Series pass transistor
4. Feedback network
 • Here, the power transistor Q1 is in
series with the unregulated dc
voltage Vin and the regulated
output voltage VO.

• The transistor Q1 is also connected

as an emitter follower and
therefore provides sufficient
current gain to drive the load.

• The Output voltage is sampled by the R1-R2 divider and fed back to the (-) input
terminal of the o-amp error amplifier.

• The sampled voltage is compared with the reference voltage Vref (usually obtained by a
zener voltage). The output VO’ of the error amplifier drives the series transistor Q1.
 Circuit Operation

If the output voltage increases,

the sampled voltage VO also
increases where

• This in turn, reduces the output voltage VO’ of the op-amp (op-amp output voltage= Gain
(V+ -V-) [OP-AMP OUTPUT VOLTAGE = GAIN (VNON - VINV)]

• VO’ is applied to the base of Q1, which is used as an emitter follower. So, VO follows VO’,
that is Vo also reduces. Hence the increase in Vo is nullified.
Fixed positive IC voltage regulators
 Fixed POSITIVE Voltage Regulators
• This IC regulator provides a fixed positive output voltage.

• Although several types of fixed positive IC voltage regulators are available, the 78XX series of
IC regulators is the most popular one.

• 78XX is a 3 terminal IC. The three terminals are input, output, and ground as indicated in
the standard fixed voltage configuration in Figure.

• The last two digits in the IC number (78XX) indicate the d.c. output voltage. For example,
the 7812 is a + 12V regulator whereas the 7805 is a + 5V regulator.

3
1

2
 3
1

CB1 CB2
2

• CB1 and CB2 are bypass capacitors that provide a low-impedance path for high-
frequency signals and are needed to ensure proper operation of the voltage regulator

• There are 7 output voltage options available such as 5,6,8,12,15,18 and 24V.
• Any regulator in the 78XX series has a dropout voltage of 2 to 3 V, depending on
the output voltage. This means that the input voltage must be at least 2 to 3 V
greater than the output voltage. Otherwise, the chip stops regulating.

• Also, there is a maximum input voltage because of excessive power dissipation. For
instance, the LM7805 will regulate over an input range of approximately 8 to 20 V.
The data sheet for the 78XX series gives the minimum and maximum input
voltages for the other pre-set output voltages.

The internal block diagram of 78xx series is the same as the “Series OP-amp
regulator” discussed in this file.
Fixed Negative IC voltage regulators
 Fixed Negative Voltage Regulators
• This IC regulator provides a fixed negative output voltage.
• Although several types of IC regulators are available, the 79XX series of IC regulators is
commonly used for this purpose.
• 79XX is a 3 terminal IC. The three terminals are input, output, and ground as indicated in
the standard fixed voltage configuration in Figure.
• The last two digits in the IC number indicate (designate) the d.c. output voltage of the
regulator. For example, the 7912 is a - 12V regulator whereas the 7905 is a - 5V regulator.

Note that the Note that the

input is negative output is negative
• Note that 79XX series provides fixed regulated voltages from - 5 V to -24V.
 Performance parameters of voltage regulators
• Two important parameters characterizing a voltage regulator circuit are line
regulation and load regulation.

LINE regulation LOAD regulation

• The ideal voltage regulator produces its desired output voltage without any change
when the input voltage and load current fluctuate.
• These ideal characteristics are not possible to achieve in any practical regulator

• The line regulation is defined as the • Load regulation is defined as the

change in output voltage for a change in output voltage for a
specified change in the input voltage. specified change in the load current.
 General Purpose Voltage regulator

NOTE: General purpose voltage regulator is also known as adjustable voltage regulator
 Disadvantages of fixed voltage regulators

 Fixed voltage regulators have the following limitations.

• Output voltage (positive or negative) is FIXED. i.e., output voltage is not adjustable.

• We need two different regulator ICs for positive and negative voltage regulation.

• Do not have short circuit protection (No short circuit protection)

• These limitations have been overcome in the general purpose regulator

• IC-723 is one of the adjustable voltage regulators. The output voltage of IC 723 can
be adjusted over a wide range of both positive or negative regulated voltage. (2V-37V).
 IC - 723

• The types 723 voltage regulator IC is produced by several different manufacturers

• It is an adjustable voltage regulator.

• It can be used as both positive and negative voltage regulator.

 Functional block diagram of IC 723

Figure:
Functional block
diagram of 723
regulator

Section - 1 Section - 2

• Figure shows the functional block diagram of a 723 voltage regulator IC.

• The internal structure of IC 723 can be divided into 2 separate sections: section-1 &
section-2
 • Functional
block diagram
Vref=7.15V of 723
regulator
Section - 2
Section - 1

• The section-1 has a Zener diode, a constant current source and a reference amplifier.
This section produces a fixed voltage of around 7.15 volts at the output terminal Vref.

• The constant current source forces the zener to operate at the fixed point so that
the zener outputs a fixed voltage.
 Pass transistor
Current
limiting
transistor

Section - 1 Section - 2

• The section-2 consists of an error amplifier, a series pass transistor Q1 and a current
limiting transistor Q2.
• A portion of the output voltage is normally connected to the INVERTING (INV) terminal of
the error amplifier.
• A sample of the reference voltage (or complete reference voltage) is normally connected to
the non-inverting (NI) terminal of the error amplifier.
• The output of the error amplifier controls the conduction of Q1. VO is the output of the IC723.
 OUTPUT OF
REGULATOR

• Functional
block diagram
of 723
regulator
Section - 1 Section - 2

• These two sections are not internally connected.

 Pin Diagram of IC 723

• The pin diagram of 723 IC is

shown in the figure

• 723 IC is a 14-pin dual in

line package.
IC 723
• Out of the 14 pins, 3 pins
are not connected. These
are pine-1, pin-8 and pin-
14

• Pin-4 and pin-5 are the

input terminal of the error
Figure: Pin diagram of 723 IC
amplifier
 Freq. Comp
• Frequency Compensation: This
pin is used to connect a capacitor
which bypasses high frequency
noises.

IC 723 • It is the output of error amplifier.

• The capacitor is connected

between this pin and inverting
input of the error amplifier.

Figure: Pin diagram of 723 IC

Applications of IC 723
 Applications of IC 723

• It can be used as an adjustable positive voltage regulator

• It can be used as an adjustable negative voltage regulator

Here, we will discuss only the positive voltage regulator Using IC 723
 LOW voltage regulator (2V-7V) Using 723
• A simple positive low-voltage (2V to 7V) regulator can be made using IC 723.

• The figure shows the low voltage

regulator using IC 723.

• This circuit arrangement is

used for regulating voltages
ranging from 2V to 7V and
hence it is called a low voltage
regulator.

Figure: Low voltage regulator using IC 723

• The voltage at the non-inverting (NI) input terminal of the error amplifier due to
the R1 and R2 voltage divider is
Vref
VNI  ( ) R2
R1  R 2
• The output voltage is directly fed back to the inverting (INV) terminal of the error
amplifier.
• The error amplifier will amplify the difference between VNI and VINV.
• The output of the error amplifier drives the pass transistor Q1.
• This figure shows the connection at the input of the error amplifier. It is a non-
inverting amplifier because the input is applied to the non-inverting amplifier. The
gain of this amplifier is one.
R2 R3
𝒓𝒆𝒇
 The closed loop gain of the amplifier Av = 1

Output voltage of error amplifier

i.e., 1
Input voltage of error amplifier
Output voltage of error amplifier  Input voltage voltage of error amplifier

• We know that the input voltage of the error amplifier is Vref

VNI  ( )R2
R1  R 2
Vref
Output voltage of error amplifier  ( ) R2
R1  R 2
• If the base-emitter voltage of Q1 is neglected, then the output voltage of the
regulator is

Vref
Vout  ( ) R2
R1  R 2
• From this equation, we can see that the output voltage is determined by the
zener voltage and the resistors R2 and R1.

• It is independent of the input voltage and therefore regulation is achieved (as

long as the input voltage and load current are within specified limits

• The reference voltage is typically 7.15V. So, the output voltage Vout is

R2
Vout  7.15
R1  R 2

• This value of output voltage will always be less than 7.15V. So, the circuit can be
used as a low voltage (<7V) 723 regulator
 High voltage regulator (>7V) Using 723

NI = Non-inverting Figure: Basic high voltage regulator (7 to 37V)

INV = Inverting
[Circuit used in the AC LAB class]
 • The figure shows a basic high voltage
regulator using IC 723.
• A reference voltage of 7.15 is
available at the pin number 6.
• This voltage Vref is connected to the
non-inverting terminal of an
operational amplifier through the
resistor R3. [The resistance R3 may be
eliminated from the circuit for minimum
component count. It is used to avoid
thermal drift].
• Due to this arrangement, the error
amplifier (op-amp) acts as an non-
inverting amplifier.
Figure: Basic high voltage regulator (7 to 37V)
• The inverting terminal 4 is connected
to the middle of R1 and R2.
 • The output is available at the pin
number 10.

R2 R1

R3
• This figure shows the input
connections of the error amplifier.
𝒓𝒆𝒇
• Since, the op-amp is connected in
the non-inverting configuration,
the voltage gain AV is given as
 Output voltage of error amplifier R
i.e.,  1 1
Input voltage of error amplifier R2
R1
Output voltage of error amplifier  Input voltage voltage of error amplifier  (1 )
R2
• We know that Input voltage of the error amplifier = Vref
R1
Output voltage of error amplifier  Vref  (1 )
R2
• We know that Vref=7.15V
R1
Output voltage of error amplifier  7.15  (1 )
R2
• If the base-emitter voltage of Q1 is neglected, then the output voltage of the regulator is

R1
Vout  7.15  (1 )
R2

• The output voltage can be varied by adjusting the values of the resistors R1 and R2.

• Using IC 723, the output voltage can be adjusted from 7V to 37V.

 Limitations of 723 General purpose regulator

• This IC is inherently low current device. It can supply only 150mA

• But, this current level can be boosted to provide 5 amps or more current by
connecting external components.