AdvancedA-004-003-002
What is one characteristic of a switching voltage regulator?
C
Answer
Measurements and troubleshooting
Type
A
The conduction of a control element is varied in direct proportion to the line voltage or load current
B
It provides more than one output voltage
C
The control device is switched on and off, with the duty cycle proportional to the line or load conditions
D
It gives a ramp voltage at its output
Answer Notes
A switching voltage regulator maintains a constant output voltage by rapidly turning a control device (such as a transistor) fully on and fully off. The regulation is achieved by adjusting the duty cycle, which is the ratio of "on" time to "off" time, dynamically responding to the line voltage or load demands.
Because the control element is either fully conducting (very low resistance) or completely off (zero current), it dissipates very little power as heat. This makes switching regulators highly efficient compared to linear regulators, even though they are more complex and can generate unwanted radio frequency interference (RFI) if not properly filtered.
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