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15.1: Theory Overview

  • Page ID
    26226
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    Regulators are used to create a stable, clean DC voltage to power other electronic systems. The regulator voltage should not change as its load changes. A linear regulator may be based on a series-parallel feedback loop, using an op amp as a controller. The op amp compares a scaled version of the load voltage to a reference voltage. By changing either the reference or the scaling factor, a range of load voltages may be obtained. Because op amps typically produce insufficient current to drive many loads, a current pass transistor is used to boost output current capability.


    This page titled 15.1: Theory Overview is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by James M. Fiore via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.