Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
August 1984
Performance Enhancement Techniques for
Three-Terminal Regulators
Jim Williams
Three terminal regulators provide a simple, effective solution to voltage regulation requirements. In many situations
the regulator can be used with no special considerations.
Some applications, however, require special techniques
to enhance the performance of the device.
Probably the most common modication involves extending the output current of regulators. Conceptually, the
simplest way to do this is by paralleling devices. In practice,
the voltage output tolerance of the regulators can cause
problems. Figure 1 shows a way to use two regulators to
achieve an output current equal to their sum. This circuit
capitalizes on the 1% output tolerance of the specied
regulators to achieve a simple paralleled conguration.
Both regulators sense from the same divider string and
the small value resistors provide ballast to account for the
slightly differing output voltages. This added impedance
degrades total circuit regulation to about 1%.
0.01
VIN 6.5V
IN
LT1083
ADJ
5V
15A
OUT
UPDATE
The LT3080 and LT3083
are better for parallel operation
0.01
IN
LT1083
ADJ
OUT
121
100F
+
200F
AN02 F01
365
Figure 1
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AN2-1
Application Note 2
Boosted regulator schemes of this type are often poorly
dynamically damped. Such improper loop compensation
results in large output transients for shifts in the load. In
particular, because Q1s common emitter conguration
has voltage gain, transients approaching the input voltage
are possible when the load drops out. Here, the 100F
capacitor damps Q1s tendency to overshoot, while the
20 value provides turn-off bias. The 250F unit maintains
Q1s emitter at DC. Figure 3 shows that this brute force
compensation works quite well. Normally the regulator
sees no load. When Trace A goes high, a 12A load (regulator output current is Trace C) is placed across the output
terminals. The regulator output voltage recovers quickly,
with minimal aberration.
250F
+
0.05*
8.5 MIN
INPUT
Q1
2N4398
(HEAT SINK)
+
1k
20
0.05
100F
OUTPUT
5V
12A
Q2
2N2907
IN
OUT
LT1005
GND
AUXILIARY
ENABLE
Q4
2N6387
10k
10k
ENABLE
LO
10k
Q3
2N2222
1k
100C N.0.
THERMO-SWITCH
ON HEAT SINK
1k
AN02 F02
Figure 2
A = 10V/DIV
A = 10V/DIV
B = 2V/DIV
B = 0.5V/DIV
AC-COUPLED
C = 5A/DIV
C = 2A/DIV
HORIZONTAL = 10s/DIV
Figure 3
AN02 F03
HORIZONTAL = 100s/DIV
AN02 F04
Figure 4
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AN2-2
Application Note 2
Power dissipation control is another area where regulators
can be helped by additional circuitry. Increasing heat sink
area can be used to offset dissipation problems, but is a
wasteful and inefcient approach. Instead, the regulator can
be placed within a switched-mode loop that servo-controls
the voltage across the regulator. In this arrangement the
regulator functions normally while the switched-mode control loop maintains the voltage across it at a minimal value,
regardless of line or load changes. Although this approach
is not quite as efcient as a classical switching regulator,
it offers lower noise and the fast transient response of
the linear regulator. Figure 5 details a DC driven version
2.2k
VZ
Q1
2N6667
1MHY
28V
INPUT
10k
IN
1N4003
4500
LT350A
ADJ
LT1004
1.2
VZ
68pF
1M
28V
OUTPUT
OUT
240*
2.0k
10k
LT1004
2.5
UPDATE
The LT3083 allows adjustment
to zero. Various single chip
switching regulators can be used
15k
1k
10k
LT1018
15k
AN02 F05
Figure 5
A = 100mV/DIV
AC-COUPLED ON
15.7V DC LEVEL
B = 50V/DIV
C = 4A/DIV
D = 20V/DIV
HORIZONTAL = 100s/DIV
AN02 F06
Figure 6
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AN2-3
Application Note 2
The 1N4003 damps the yback spike of the current-limiting inductor. The 4.7k unit ensures circuit start-up and
the 68pF-1M combination sets loop hysteresis at about
80mVP-P . This free-running oscillation control mode
substantially reduces dissipation in the regulator, while
preserving its performance. Despite changes in the input
voltage, different regulated outputs or load shifts, the
loop always ensures the minimum possible dissipation
in the regulator.
VZ
STANCOR
P-8675
1MHY
1N4003
20
3
110AC
20
t
t
LT1038 OR
LT1083
750*
10,000F
LT1004
1.2
T1
20k
VZ
LT1004
2.5
2.7k
15V
LT1004
1.2V
1N4003
15V
82k
16k*
1k
1F
100F
1N4003
0V-35V
0A-10A
(7.5A FOR LT1083)
15V
2
C1
LT1011
10k
15V
11k*
200k
7
1
0.1
15V
15k
15V
2N3904
1N4148
100pF
15V
15V
C2
LT1011
1
UPDATE
Paralled LT3083s allow
adjustment to zero
without the LT1004
15V
1
15k
10k
A1
LM301A
16k*
1F
11k*
15V
15V
AN02 F07
Figure 7
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AN2-4
Application Note 2
(3.7V). As a result, the circuit functions over all line, load
and output voltage conditions with good efciency. The
1.2V LT1004 at the LT1038 allows the output voltage to
be set down to 0.00 and the 2N3904 clamp at A1 prevents
loop hang-up. Figure 7A shows a way to trigger the SCRs
without using a transformer.
1N4148
20
TO
SCR
GATES
TO 10k-15k JUNCTION
FROM A1 OUTPUT
10,000F
20
15V
3
10k
1MHY
15V
0.68
10k
C2
2N2219
TO
C1 OUTPUT
1N4148
AN02 F07A
Figure 7A
A = 50V/DIV
B = 10V/DIV
C = 100mA/DIV
D = 50V/DIV
E = 10A/DIV
HORIZONTAL = 2ms/DIV
AN02 F08
Figure 8
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AN2-5
Application Note 2
In practice, A1s 1F capacitor keeps dissipation loop
gain at a low enough frequency for stable characteristics,
without inuencing the LT1038s transient response characteristic. Trace A, Figure 9 shows the output noise while
the circuit is operating at 35V into a 10A load (350W). Note
the absence of fast switching transients and harmonics.
The output noise is made up of residual 120Hz ripple and
regulator noise. Reected noise into the AC power line is
also negligible (Trace B) because the inductor limits current rise time to about 1ms, much slower than the normal
switching supplies. Figure 10 shows a plot of efciency
versus output voltage for a 10A load. At low output voltages, where the static losses across the regulator and SCRs
are signicant, efciency suffers, but 85% is attained at
the upper extreme.
High voltage output is another area for regulator enhancement. In theory, because the regulator does not have a
ground pin, it can regulate high voltages. In normal operation the regulator oats at the supplys upper level, and as
long as the VINVOUT maximum differential is not exceeded
there are no problems. However, if the output is shorted,
the VINVOUT maximum is exceeded and device destruction will occur. The circuit of Figure 11 shows a complete
high voltage regulator that delivers 100V at 100mA and
withstands shorts to ground. Even at 100V output the
LT317A functions in the normal mode, maintaining 1.2V
between its output and adjustment pin.
100
P = 300W
90
P = 200W
80
EFFICIENCY (%)
10mV/DIV
AC-COUPLED
ON 35V OUTPUT
70
P = 100W
60
P = 50W
50
40
30
20
200V/DIV
P = 10W
10
0
5
15
20
10
OUTPUT VOLTAGE
AN02 F09
HORIZONTAL = 2ms/DIV
30
25
AN02 F10
Figure 9
TRIAD
N-48X
Figure 10
1N4004
100V
OUTPUT
1N4004
120V
115AC
IN
+
500F
LT317AT
ADJ
OUT
10
Q1
2N6533
0.02F
1N4148
UPDATE
Newer regulators such as
the LT3080 and LT3081
allow adjustment to zero
500pF
1N3031
30V
2k
5W
332
1k
OUTPUT
ADJ
25.5k
AN02 F11
Figure 11
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AN2-6
Application Note 2
Under these conditions the 30V Zener is off and Q1 conducts. When an output short occurs, the Zener conducts,
forcing Q1s base to 30V. This causes Q1s emitter to clamp
2 VBEs below VZ, well within the VINVOUT rating of the
regulator. Under these conditions, Q1, a high voltage device,
sustains 90V VCE at whatever current the transformer and
the regulators current limit will support. The transformer
specied saturates at 130mA, keeping Q1 well within its
safe area as it dissipates 12W. If Q1 and the LT317A are
thermally coupled, the regulator will soon go into thermal
shutdown and oscillation will commence. This action will
continue, protecting the load and the regulator as long as
the output remains shorted. the 500pF capacitor and the
10-0.02F damper aid transient response and the diodes
provide safe discharge paths for the capacitors.
This approach to high voltage regulation is primarily limited by the power dissipation capability of the device in
series with the regulator. Figure 11A uses a vacuum tube
(remember them?) to achieve very high short-circuit dissipation capability. The tube allows high voltage operation
and is extremely tolerant of overloads. This circuit allows
the LT317A to control 600W at 2000V (V1s plate limit is
300mA) with full short-circuit protection.
75-TH
EIMAC
FILIMENT
V1
2500V
IN
180k
50W
LT317AT
ADJ
OUTPUT
2000V
OUT
VIN
IN
LT317AH
ADJ
OUTPUT
10V
OUT
2k
1.2k
1N3031
2k
A1
LT1001
500k
OUTPUT
TRIM
UPDATE
The LT3085 will allow
VOUT to go to zero
1.8M
2W
LT1009
2.5V
AN02 F11A
Figure 11A
15k*
4.99k*
AN02 F12
Figure 12
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AN2-7
Application Note 2
A nal circuit allows voltage regulator-powered circuity to
run from 110VAC or 220VAC without having to switch transformer windings. Regulator dissipation does not increase
for 220VAC inputs. In Figure 14, when T1 is driven from
110VAC, the LT1011 output goes high, allowing the SCR
to receive gate bias through the 1.2k resistor. The 1N4002
is off. T1s output is rectied by the SCR and the regulator
sees about 8.5V at its input. If T1 is plugged into a 220VAC
source, the negative input at the LT1011 is driven beyond
2.5V and the devices output clamps low. This steers the
SCRs gate bias to ground through the LT1011s output
transistor. The diodes in the LT1011 output line prevent
RDROP
(MAX DROP = 300mV)
VIN
IN
LT350A
ADJ
5V AT 3A
OUT
VIN
22
RLOAD
A1
LM301A
121
1k
4
365
25
100pF
5F
AN02 F13
HIGH CURRENT
RETURN
TO GROUND
Figure 13
C-106 (G.E.)
T1
IN
+
5000F
LT1086
ADJ
OUT
240*
VOUT
5V
+
10F
1N4002
110-220AC
720*
1k
18
AN02 F14
1k
1.6k
3
1M
1F
LT1011
2
6.2k
UPDATE
The LT3080 regulator
allows VOUT to go to zero
16
REGULATOR INPUT VOLTAGE
1.2k
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
LT1009C
2.5V
40
240
280
AN02 F15
Figure 14
Figure 15
an2f
AN2-8
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