Report

AIM: To design the 5volt voltage regulators.

COMPONENT:

Sr. No. Name Designator Footprints Quantity

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

INTRODUCTION:

Voltage regulators are fundamental in electronic systems, providing a stable and reliable output
voltage regardless of variations in input voltage or load current. The 5V supply is one of the most
common requirements in digital circuits, especially for microcontrollers, sensors, and
communication modules. This report presents a detailed study and design approach for 5V
voltage regulators using both linear and switching methods.
The need for a stable 5V power source arises from the operating requirements of many electronic
components and systems. For instance, many integrated circuits (ICs), logic devices, and
microprocessors require precisely 5V to function correctly. Any deviation from this voltage can
result in unpredictable behavior, data corruption, or even permanent damage to components.
Furthermore, in battery-powered and portable applications, where the input voltage can vary
significantly over time, a voltage regulator ensures that the connected devices continue to receive
a constant and regulated 5V supply. This stability is also crucial in communication devices,
where voltage fluctuations can interfere with signal integrity and cause transmission errors.
With the rapid advancement of embedded systems and portable electronics, the demand for
efficient, compact, and reliable voltage regulators has increased. Designing an effective 5V
regulator involves understanding the principles of voltage regulation, selecting appropriate
components, and implementing robust circuit designs. This report will explore both linear and
switching regulator topologies, providing practical examples and comparisons to guide engineers
and enthusiasts in creating efficient power supply solutions.

DESIGNING THE CIRCUIT:

The purpose of a voltage regulator is to keep a constant output voltage, even when the input
voltage changes. Why is that important? Because the electronic components are only rated to
handle a certain voltage.

Take
this LED for example, if we connect it to a 9 volt battery, it will instantly be destroyed forever.
That’s because of this thin wire inside the LED. Looking under a microscope we can see the
voltage pushed too many electrons through the wire which caused it to burn out. To protect the
LED we need a resistor. This will reduce the current.
This is only a 10 ohm resistor, which is connected to our variable DC power supply. When we
supply a small voltage, we see the LED is fine but as we increase this, the resistor burns into
flames and the LED will be destroyed. So, using a resistor works well but the voltage must
remain fairly constant. We therefore need a way to ensure a constant output voltage even when
the input voltage is varied. Lets say we want to maintain a constant 5 volt DC supply and enough
current to charge a simple cheap phone. We want to be able to connect this to multiple voltage
sources such as 9 volts or maybe 12 volt batteries. To achieve that we need to use an integrated
circuit component. There are lots to choose from, which can all work in different voltages, but
from a bit of research we found this one. The LM7805.

This can maintain a constant 5 volt DC output and up to 1.5 amps of current. This component
can be connected to any DC supply voltage between 7 and 35 volts. So its perfect for our needs.
It has three pins. Pin one is the input for unregulated voltage. Pin 2 is the ground pin and pin 3 is
the regulated 5 volt output. The manufacturer recommends a capacitor on the input and the
output. It notes that the input capacitor is required if the regulator is far away from the power
supply filter. We are going to be using some long wires to connect the battery so we will use the
recommended 0.22 microfarad capacitor. This is an electrolytic capacitor. We can use a slightly
larger capacity version but we don’t want to use a smaller one. The capacitor is going to help
smooth out interruptions to the supply and also low frequency distortions. In this simple
example, you can see the LED turns off instantly when the power is interrupted. But if we place
a capacitor in parallel with the LED the LED will remain on because now the capacitor is
discharging and powering the LED.
So, the LED is almost unaffected by the interruptions. We’re going to add another capacitor in
parallel on the input side. This is a bypass capacitor. This is placed very close to the regulator
input pin. This will be a small ceramic capacitor which is typically 0.1 microfarads. The purpose
of this capacitor is to filter out the noise and high frequency distortions from the power supply.
As we might not always get a perfectly flat DC supply. We will also add another 0.1 microfarad
bypass capacitor on the output side as well as 10 microfarads electrolytic capacitor. This is just a
typical value used for this purpose. We could use a slightly higher capacitor version if we wanted
to but this will work fine. These are going to help ensure we have a clean output on our
connected circuit. We will also add a protection diode on the input side. This will help protect the
circuit if we connect the power supply the wrong way. To show it works, if we connect this
incandescent lamp to a power supply, it will illuminate. We can reverse the leads and it will also
illuminate. If we place a diode on the red wire and connect this to the positive, it will again
illuminate. But now when we reverse the leads, the diode blocks the current and the lamp
remains off. So we can use this to protect the circuit. We can use a rectifier diode or a Schottky
diode. Here you can see we’ve placed two LEDs, each connected to a different type of diode. As
we slowly increase the voltage, we see the LED connected to the rectifier diode is not as bright.
That’s because this type of diode has a large voltage drop. If we measure across the Schottky
diode, we have a voltage drop of around 0.3 volts and the rectifier has around 0.66 volts. So its
better to use a Schottky diode for this application. Now we can lay all these components out on a
breadboard to test it out like we’ve done here. And once we are happy that it works, we can now
turn this into a printed circuit board.
ADVANTAGES:

 Stable Output Voltage: Maintains 5V output under varying load and input conditions.
 Component Protection: Prevents damage to ICs and circuits that require strict voltage
limits.
 Wide Availability: Numerous off-the-shelf ICs are available.
 Low Cost (Linear): Linear regulators like the 7805 are inexpensive and easy to use.
 High Efficiency (Switching): Switching regulators provide efficient power conversion.
 Built-in Protections: Many regulators include thermal shutdown, current limiting, and
short-circuit protection.

DISADVANTAGES:

 Low Efficiency (Linear): Significant energy is lost as heat, especially at high input
voltages.
 Heat Generation: Linear regulators require heatsinking under heavy loads.
 Complexity (Switching): Switching regulators require more components and careful
layout.
 Noise (Switching): Higher output ripple and EMI can interfere with sensitive analog
circuitry.
 Size (Switching): Inductors and capacitors can increase board space requirements.

APPLICATION:

5V voltage regulators are widely used across numerous industries and devices due to their
compatibility with a vast range of electronic components, especially logic circuits, sensors, and
microcontrollers. Below is an in-depth look at various application areas:

1. USB-Powered Devices

 Description: USB ports universally supply 5V power. Devices like USB flash drives,
chargers, and small peripherals are designed around this voltage.
  Regulator Role: Ensures devices that require precise 5V levels (due to sensitive
components) get clean, regulated voltage despite minor fluctuations in USB supply.
 Importance: Guarantees device safety, performance, and USB standard compliance.

2. Sensor Modules

 Description: Many analog and digital sensors operate at 5V (e.g., temperature sensors
like LM35, ultrasonic sensors, IR modules).
 Why Regulation is Needed: Fluctuating supply can lead to inaccurate sensor readings or
permanent damage.
 Importance: Improves data accuracy and reliability in embedded systems, especially in
automation and IoT.

3. Communication Modules

 Description: Modules like GSM (SIM800L), GPS, and some Wi-Fi devices require 5V
input.
 Regulator Role: Protects modules from overvoltage and provides a stable supply to
maintain signal integrity.
 Importance: Prevents communication failure and extends device life.

4. Power Supply Units

 Description: 5V regulators are used in power adapters and bench power supplies to
deliver regulated power for testing and prototyping circuits.
 Importance: Ensures safety and reliability in lab environments and testing conditions.

5. Consumer Electronics

 Description: Devices such as MP3 players, remote controls, LED drivers, and toys often
require 5V.
 Regulator Role: Converts battery voltage (e.g., 9V or 12V) or USB power into regulated
5V.
 Importance: Enhances device efficiency and prevents malfunction.

6. Robotics

 Description: Robots use various sensors, microcontrollers, and actuators, many of which
are 5V-operated.
 Regulator Use: A 5V regulator is essential to power control boards, servos, and sensors
from a higher battery voltage (e.g., 7.4V LiPo).
 Importance: Ensures safe operation and prevents crashes or component failure due to
voltage spikes.

7. Automotive Electronics
  Description: In-car systems such as infotainment, diagnostic tools, and lighting control
sometimes rely on 5V circuits.
 Regulator Use: Automotive battery voltage (~12V) is stepped down and regulated to 5V
to safely power these systems.
 Importance: Prevents damage from voltage transients and supports reliable vehicle
operation.

8. Industrial Control Systems

 Description: PLCs, motor controllers, and monitoring equipment often use 5V logic.
 Why Regulators Are Important: Industrial environments can have noisy and unstable
power sources, so regulation is critical.
 Importance: Increases system uptime and accuracy of process control.

9. Medical Devices

 Description: Devices like patient monitors and wearable medical devices may use 5V
circuits.
 Importance of Regulation: Clean, stable power is crucial to ensure patient safety and
data accuracy.

CONCLUSION:

Designing a 5V voltage regulator involves selecting between linear and switching methods based
on the specific application needs. Linear regulators are suitable for low-power, noise-sensitive
applications, while switching regulators are ideal for high-efficiency and high-current
applications. Understanding the trade-offs in complexity, efficiency, and thermal performance is
key to successful voltage regulator design.