Sanjay Pithadia
Let’s say that you are working on an ultrasound system. You require a clean ±100V supply to power the ultrasound transmitter, so you need a linear regulator (LDO). How do you tackle this requirement?
You could look for a device from a semiconductor manufacturer, but the chances of getting readily available voltage regulators (both positive and negative) that can support such high voltages are rare. You could create a discrete, old-fashioned, dissipative transistor-based regulator. Or you could use an existing off-the-shelf low-voltage regulator to fulfill your requirements by employing a trick called “floating.”
Floating has been around a long time. A floating regulator is a type of voltage regulator that works without a real ground connection. This is a trick used for regulating voltages higher than the regulator’s rated value. Many applications require circuit performances that are unachievable with conventional regulator designs. In this post, I’ll look at an innovative circuit that can float grounds for both positive and negative regulators. Although the examples shown are for voltage regulators, the circuits are applicable to power filters like the TPS7A3501 as well.
TI’s TPS7A4701 is a 36V ultra-low noise (4μVRMS) LDO capable of sourcing a 1A load and providing a positive output voltage. External feedback resistors configure the TPS7A4701’s output voltage. To get the TPS7A4701 to support output voltages up to 100V, you can float the ground of the integrated circuit (IC) using a DC amplifier, as shown in Figure 1. In general, any positive regulator has some current flowing into the GND pin, which is listed as I(GND) in a data sheet. For the TPS7A4701, I(GND) is 6.1mA typical when the output current is 1A.
As shown in simulation in Figure 1, the LDO I(GND) is the current from the GND pin. This current is divided into two paths: one through a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and the other through a resistor voltage divider. Operational amplifier (op amp) U1 operates as an integrator in an open-loop configuration and drives the BJT through a series resistance of 2.2 kΩ. A 12 V supply VCC supplies the op amp. The VCNTRL input decides the value of the virtual ground voltage, as shown in Equation 1.
The circuit shown in Figure 1 combined with the TPS7A4701 is tested during development for high-voltage operation. Figure 2 shows the transfer characteristics (for the circuit in Figure 1) with respect to the control voltage. The virtual ground is set using an external control voltage, VCNTL(P).
The floating negative regulator example uses the TPS7A3301, a -36V ultra-low noise (16μVRMS, 72dB power supply rejection ratio [PSRR]) LDO capable of sinking a 1A load and providing a negative output voltage. For the TPS7A3301, I(GND) is specified as 5mA typical when the output current is 50mA. This current is diverted using a BJT, as shown in Figure 3.
Two op amps (U1 and U2) form a DC amplifier. The first stage converts the negative output voltage to a positive value. The second op amp is an error amplifier. The system has a stable point where the negative input becomes equal to the positive input of this second op amp. If the output goes too negative, the PNP transistor (at the output of the second op amp) is driven to saturation; this shifts the virtual ground toward zero. The VCNTL input decides the value of the output voltage by using Equation 2.
As shown in Figure 3, the output of the first op amp locks at the VCNTL voltage (= 1 V) and sets the negative output voltage at -21.32 V and virtual ground at -18.02 V.
The circuit shown in Figure 3 combined with the TPS7A3301 is tested during development for high-voltage operation. Figure 4 shows the transfer characteristics (for the circuit in Figure 3) with respect to the control voltage. The virtual ground is set using an external control voltage, VCNTL(N).
The circuits used for floating the grounds are generic circuits. They use low-voltage op amps and external transistors to enhance the capability of existing low-voltage regulators.
Which techniques do you use for floating the ground? Tell us in the comments.
TI PROVIDES TECHNICAL AND RELIABILITY DATA (INCLUDING DATASHEETS), DESIGN RESOURCES (INCLUDING REFERENCE DESIGNS), APPLICATION OR OTHER DESIGN ADVICE, WEB TOOLS, SAFETY INFORMATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES “AS IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS, AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
These resources are intended for skilled developers designing with TI products. You are solely responsible for (1) selecting the appropriate TI products for your application, (2) designing, validating and testing your application, and (3) ensuring your application meets applicable standards, and any other safety, security, or other requirements. These resources are subject to change without notice. TI grants you permission to use these resources only for development of an application that uses the TI products described in the resource. Other reproduction and display of these resources is prohibited. No license is granted to any other TI intellectual property right or to any third party intellectual property right. TI disclaims responsibility for, and you will fully indemnify TI and its representatives against, any claims, damages, costs, losses, and liabilities arising out of your use of these resources.
TI’s products are provided subject to TI’s Terms of Sale (www.ti.com/legal/termsofsale.html) or other applicable terms available either on ti.com or provided in conjunction with such TI products. TI’s provision of these resources does not expand or otherwise alter TI’s applicable warranties or warranty disclaimers for TI products.
Mailing Address: Texas Instruments, Post Office Box 655303, Dallas, Texas 75265
Copyright © 2023, Texas Instruments Incorporated