Shunt regulator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shunt regulator for stepping down an input potential to an output potential, the shunt regulator comprising:
- an input terminal for applying the input potential between the input terminal and a common fixed potential;
an output terminal for tapping off the output potential between the output terminal and the common fixed potential, the output potential being regulated; and
a voltage drop circuit comprisingat least one transistor having a load path,at least one nonreactive resistor coupled into a current path of the voltage drop circuit, the at least one nonreactive resistor having an adjustable resistance value, whereinthe voltage drop circuit is coupled in series between the input terminal and the output terminal,during operation of the shunt regulator, a voltage difference between the input potential and the output potential drops across the voltage drop circuit, anda current flowing through the voltage drop circuit or a limit value of the current flowing through the voltage drop circuit is adjustable.
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Abstract
A shunt regulator for stepping down an input potential to an output potential, has an input for applying the input potential, an output for tapping off the output potential and a voltage drop circuit, across which the voltage difference between the input potential and the output potential drops. It is possible for the current flowing through the voltage drop circuit or its lower and/or upper limit value to be adjusted.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shunt regulator for stepping down an input potential to an output potential, the shunt regulator comprising:
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an input terminal for applying the input potential between the input terminal and a common fixed potential; an output terminal for tapping off the output potential between the output terminal and the common fixed potential, the output potential being regulated; and a voltage drop circuit comprising at least one transistor having a load path, at least one nonreactive resistor coupled into a current path of the voltage drop circuit, the at least one nonreactive resistor having an adjustable resistance value, wherein the voltage drop circuit is coupled in series between the input terminal and the output terminal, during operation of the shunt regulator, a voltage difference between the input potential and the output potential drops across the voltage drop circuit, and a current flowing through the voltage drop circuit or a limit value of the current flowing through the voltage drop circuit is adjustable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a shunt regulator comprising an input terminal, an output terminal, and a common terminal, the method comprising:
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comparing a potential between the input terminal and the common terminal of the shunt regulator with a predetermined threshold; adjusting a resistance of a voltage drop circuit based on comparing the potential at the input terminal, the voltage drop circuit coupled in series between the input terminal and the output terminal of the shunt regulator; and regulating an output potential between the output terminal and the common terminal, regulating comprising controlling a shunt regulation transistor coupled in shunt with the output terminal, the controlling comprising comparing a potential at the output terminal with a reference voltage and adjusting a current through the shunt regulation transistor based on the comparing the potential at the output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A semiconductor shunt regulator circuit comprising:
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a voltage drop circuit coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal of the semiconductor shunt regulator circuit, the voltage drop circuit comprising an adjustable resistor comprising at least one transistor and at least one resistor coupled in series, a first voltage divider circuit coupled to the input terminal of the semiconductor shunt regulator circuit, a control circuit configured to control the adjustable resistor based on an output of the first voltage divider circuit; and a shunt regulation circuit configured to regulate an output potential between the output terminal and a common terminal, the shunt regulation circuit comprising a shunt transistor comprising an output terminal coupled between the output terminal and the common terminal of the semiconductor shunt regulator circuit; and an operational amplifier comprising an output coupled to a control terminal of the shunt transistor, a first input coupled to a second voltage divider circuit, wherein the second voltage divider circuit is further coupled to the output terminal of the semiconductor shunt regulator circuit, and a second input coupled to a reference voltage.
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Specification