Voltage Regulation using Zener Diodes（使用稳压二极管电压调节）.pdfVIP

Voltage Regulation using Zener Diodes /classes/ece480/goodman/fall08/group0... Voltage Regulation using Zener Diodes Bryan Witherspoon November 8, 2008 Abstract In digital or mixed-signal applications, there is a need to precisely regulate the voltage entering or exiting a circuit. The Zener diode has a unique property that offers a simple, low-cost solution to this problem. This application note discusses the implementation of this voltage regulator and its advantages and drawbacks. Keywords: Zener diode, Circuit, Voltage regulator, Digital, Mixed Signal Introduction Low voltage, low current applications like digital or mixed-signal circuitry require precise voltages for certain tasks like powering a microcontroller, or providing a reference voltage for measurements. In the laboratory, voltage regulation may be viewed as unnecessary or redundant when fine control over circuit inputs exists. In most real-world applications, however, the environments in which our circuits exist are much more harsh and unforgiving. It then becomes necessary to properly protect circuitry, especially in those which may be sensitive to spikes in voltage or current. There are many integrated circuit voltage regulators on the market today. These tend to be expensive, unnecessarily complex, may be subject to temperature effects, and typically require a much higher voltage in order to maintain its listed voltage. In applications where current draw is sufficently small, a more attractive solution exists which only uses a resistor and a unique semiconductor called a Zener diode (/wiki/Zener_diode) Zener Diode Properties The Zener diode is a unique device which exploits a property of diodes that is generally avoided in standard diode