Linear Regulator
What is a linear regulator?
A linear regulator is a voltage regulation circuit that maintains a constant output voltage by continuously adjusting its internal resistance to drop excess input voltage. It operates by using a pass element (typically a transistor) that acts as a variable resistor, dissipating the difference between input and output voltage as heat. Linear regulators are simple, inexpensive, and provide clean output with low noise, making them ideal for low-power applications where efficiency is less critical than simplicity and output quality.
Related Terms
Voltage Regulator
A voltage regulator is an electronic circuit or component that maintains a constant output voltage regardless of variations in input voltage or load current. It takes an unstable or varying input voltage and produces a stable, regulated output voltage that electronic circuits require to function properly. Voltage regulators are essential in power supplies and are commonly found in linear forms (like the 7805 IC) or switching forms (like buck converters) depending on efficiency and application requirements.
Low Dropout Regulator
LDOA Low Dropout Regulator (LDO) is a linear voltage regulator that can maintain a stable output voltage even when the input voltage is only slightly higher than the desired output voltage. Unlike switching regulators, LDOs operate by dissipating excess voltage as heat through a pass transistor, making them simple to implement and producing very low output noise. They are commonly used in battery-powered devices and sensitive analog circuits where a clean, stable voltage supply is critical, though they are less efficient than switching regulators due to their linear operation.