Switching Regulator Design Calculator Overview
Utmel Electronic developed several online calculation tools, including switching regulator design calculator, for electrical designers. This switching calculator can help you to calculate the output voltage of switching regulator so as to make an ideal switching circuit. Of course, you can go to the Tools category, if you need other online calculators, such as Resistor Color Code Calculator, SMD Resistor Code Calculator, Parallel and Series Resistor Calculator, Ohms Law Calculator, Conversion dBm to Watts Calculator, etc.
Introduction of Switching Regulators
What is Switching regulator?
Like Linear Regulator, Switching regulator is also a type of regulator, based on DC to DC converter. And switching regulators use a power switch, diode and inductor to transfer energy from its source to the output. Meanwhile, you can also call switching regulator as switching converter and switched mode power supply (SMPS).
Types of Switching Regulators
There are 3 switching regulator types available in the marketplace: Buck Regulator, Boost Regulator and Inverter.
Buck Regulator
Buck regulator is Buck Switching Regulator, used to step down a input higher voltage to an output lower voltage. For example, MC34063 DC-DC converter IC in Buck mode, acting as a Buck voltage regulator, can help you to convert 12V to 5V. Because 12V is the higher voltage, whereas 5V is the lower voltage. Meanwhile, you can also make a simple Buck regulator circuit by the usage of N-Channel MOSFET and Arduino.
Boost Regulator
A boost converter, also step-up regulator, may generate a greater voltage on the output than it can on the input. A boost converter, for example, may produce 5V or 12V from a single 3.7V lithium-ion battery. There are several boost regulators, such as TPS61022, TPS61088-Q1, TPS61178, TPS61235P, TPS61236P, TPS61089, TPS61088, LM5150, TPS61023, TPS61379, LM51551, LM5156, etc.
Core Components of Switching Voltage Regulator
Generally, a switch-mode converter regulator consists of 4 main electronic components, such as transistors as a switch, inductors, capacitors and diodes. The below will show you the functions of these electrical parts in switching voltage regulator.
Switches/Transistors
Transistor in switching voltage regulator is the reason that this kind of regulators are called “Switching Regulators”. And they are applied to control the voltage of switching regulator.
Inductors
As a passive electronic component, an inductor is used to store energy in an electrical circuit.
Capacitors
As one of the most basic passive electrical components, a capacitor is a device with 2-terminal to store energy in a circuit.
Diodes
Known as rectifiers, a diode is a semiconductor component that functions as a current one-way switch. It permits current to flow freely in one direction while drastically restricting current flow in the other.
Examples of Switching Regulators
LM3671 Buck Converter
LM3671 Buck Converter is an IC circuit, which is used for a simple switching regulator. And to design a switching regulator is harder than to design a linear regulator. From LM3671's schematic, you will get know that it contains an inductor, output capacitors and input capacitors. More information about LM3671, you can download LM3671 datasheet here.
LM317 Voltage Regulator
LM350, LM338 and LM317 are adjustable and positive voltage regulators with 3-terminal. Therefore, you can use this LM317 calculator to calculate the value of R1(the program resistor) and R2 (Output set resistor). Meanwhile, it can help you to get the output voltage when you use the LM350, LM338 and LM317 voltage regulator IC in a circuit. However, LM337 is a negative voltage regulator IC. L317 Datasheet and L317 Pinout are listed in the L317 Product page.
Key Features of L317 Transistor
Internal short-circuit current limiting
Output safe-area compensation
Output current greater than 1.5 A
Thermal overload protection
Adjustable Output-voltage range: from 1.25 V to 37 V
Applications of L317 Voltage Regulator
DVS and DVR
Desktop PC, Still Camera and Digital Signage
DLP: Spectroscopy, Hyperspectral imaging, Optical networking, 3D biometrics
Energy harvesting
ATCA solutions
