UNIT

5 Application ICs

AD623 Instrumentation Amplifier and its application as

load cell weight measurement – IC voltage regulators –
LM78XX, LM79XX; Fixed voltage regulators its
application as Linear power supply - LM317, 723 Variable
voltage regulators, switching regulator- SMPS – ICL 8038
function generator IC.
 AD623 Instrumentation Amplifier
The AD623 is an integrated, single- or dual-supply instrumentation amplifier that delivers rail-to-rail output swing
using supply voltages from 3 V to 12 V. The AD623 offers superior user flexibility by allowing single gain set
resistor programming and by conforming to the 8-lead industry standard pin configuration. With no external
resistor, the AD623 is configured for unity gain (G = 1), and with an external resistor, the AD623 can be
programmed for gains of up to 1000. The superior accuracy of the AD623 is the result of increasing ac common-
mode rejection ratio (CMRR) coincident with increasing gain; line noise harmonics are rejected due to constant
CMRR up to 200 Hz. The AD623 has a wide input common-mode range and amplifies signals with common mode
voltages as low as 150 mV below ground. The AD623 maintains superior performance with dual and single
polarity power supplies.
FEATURES
Easy to use
Rail-to-rail output swing
Input voltage range extends 150 mV below ground (single supply)
Low power, 550 µA maximum supply current
Gain set with one external resistor
Gain range: 1 to 1000
High accuracy dc performance
APPLICATIONS
Low power medical instrumentation, Transducer interfaces, Thermocouple amplifiers, Industrial process controls,
Difference amplifiers, Low power data acquisition.
 AD623 Instrumentation Amplifier
The AD623 is an instrumentation amplifier based on a modified classic 3-op-amp approach, to assure single- or
dual-supply operation even at common-mode voltages at the negative supply rail. Low voltage offsets, input and
output, as well as absolute gain accuracy, and one external resistor to set the gain, make the AD623 one of the
most versatile instrumentation amplifiers in its class.
The input signal is applied to PNP transistors acting as voltage buffers and providing a common-mode signal to
the input amplifiers. An absolute value 50 kΩ resistor in each amplifier feedback assures gain programmability.
The differential output is

The differential voltage is then

converted to a single-ended voltage
using the output amplifier, which also
rejects any common-mode signal at
the output of the input amplifiers.
Because the amplifiers can swing to
either supply rail, as well as have their
common-mode range extended to
below the negative supply rail, the
range over which the AD623 can
operate is further enhanced.
 AD623 Instrumentation Amplifier
The output voltage at Pin 6 is measured with respect to the potential at Pin 5. The impedance of the reference pin
is 100 kΩ; therefore, in applications requiring voltage conversion, a small resistor between Pin 5 and Pin 6 is all
that is needed.
Because of the voltage feedback topology of the internal op amps, the bandwidth of the in-amp decreases with
increasing gain. At unity gain, the output amplifier limits the bandwidth.
 AD623 Instrumentation Amplifier
Basic Connection
The diagram shows the basic connection circuits for the AD623. The +VS and −VS terminals are connected to the
power supply. The supply can be either bipolar (VS = ±2.5 V to ±6 V) or single supply (−VS = 0 V, +VS = 3 V to
12 V). Capacitively decouple power supplies close to the power pins of the device. For best results, use surface-
mount 0.1 μF ceramic chip capacitors and 10 μF electrolytic tantalum capacitors.
The input voltage, which can be either single-ended (tie either −IN or +IN to ground) or differential, is amplified
by the programmed gain. The output signal appears as the voltage difference between the OUTPUT pin and the
externally applied voltage on the REF input. For a ground referenced output, REF must be grounded.
 AD623 Instrumentation Amplifier
Application: Load cell weight measurement
AD623 Instrumentation amplifier IC. 1K resistor gives 50 times amplification because the REF pin is connected
to –Vs. To check, the differential input voltage is 0.8mV and the output is 42mV (52.5 gain). Note that the
capacitors are placed (0.1micro and 10micro from Vs to ground) but are not shown in figure. Also if the
differential voltage is doubled, the amplification remains around 50. And when the resistor is changed to 200
ohms (500x multiplication according to datasheet), around 250x multiplication is achieved. So amplification is
quite accurate.
 IC Voltage Regulator
A voltage regulator is a system designed to automatically maintain a constant voltage level.
Advent of micro-electronics, it is possible to incorporate the complete discrete circuits becomes a integrated
circuit (IC). They are basically series regulators with all the basic blocks present inside the IC. Therefore it is
easier to use IC voltage regulator instead of discrete voltage regulators.
Important features of IC Regulators:
• Programmable output
• Facility to boost the voltage/current
• Internally provided short circuit current limiting
• Thermal shutdown
• Floating operation to facilitate higher voltage output
Classification of IC Voltage Regulator:
1. Fixed Voltage Regulator.
2. Adjustable output Voltage Regulator
3. Switching Regulator
Fixed and Adjustable output Voltage Regulators are known as Linear Regulator.
A series pass transistor is used and it operates always in its active region.
Switching Regulator:
• Series Pass Transistor acts as a switch.
• The amount of power dissipation in it decreases considerably.
• Power saving result is higher efficiency compared to that of linear.
 Fixed Voltage Regulator
LM78XX /79XX VOLTAGE REGULATOR:
The 78xx (sometimes L78xx, LM78xx, MC78xx...) is a family of self-contained fixed linear voltage
regulator integrated circuits. The 78xx family is commonly used in electronic circuits requiring a regulated
power supply due to their ease-of-use and low cost. For ICs within the family, the xx is replaced with two digits,
indicating the output voltage (for example, the 7805 has a 5 volt output, while the 7812 produces 12 volts).
The 78xx line are positive voltage regulators: they produce a voltage that is positive relative to a common
ground. There is a related line of 79xx devices which are complementary negative voltage regulators. 78xx and
79xx ICs can be used in combination to provide positive and negative supply voltages in the same circuit.
|Vin| ≥ |Vo|+2.
Application areas for IC 7805
Fixed-Output Regulator
Positive Regulator in Negative Configuration
Adjustable Output Regulator
Current Regulator
Adjustable DC Voltage Regulator
Regulated Dual-Supply
Output Polarity-Reversal-Protection Circuit
Reverse bias projection Circuit
 Fixed Voltage Regulator
LM78XX VOLTAGE REGULATOR:
The 78XX series voltage regulator can be used to provide positive output voltages. The
capacitor C1 and C2 are generally optional, C2 is used to cancel any inductance present and C1
improves the transient response and acts as a ripple filter. If used, they should preferably be
either 1 µF (C2) tantalum type or 0.1 µF (C1) mica type capacitors.
 Fixed Voltage Regulator
LM78XX / 79XX VOLTAGE REGULATOR:
A dual voltage regulator is shown figure. The circuit uses fixed positive (IC78XX) and fixed
negative (IC79XX) voltage regulators. The dual regulated voltage supplies as required for op-
amps can be obtained from this circuit.
 Adjustable Voltage Regulator
Fixed Voltage Regulator used as ADJUSTABLE VOLTAGE REGULATOR:
An adjustable voltage regulator is a kind of regulator whose regulated output voltage can be varied over a
range. There are two variations of the same; known as positive adjustable voltage regulator and negative
adjustable regulator. There may be certain conditions where a variable voltage may be required. The resistors R1
and R2 determine the output voltage VO.
 The output voltage is
VO = VR + Vpot
= VR + (IQ +IR1 ) R2 => VR + IQ R2 + IR1 R2
= VR + IQ R2 + R2

or VO + IQ R2
Where,
VR is the regulated voltage difference between OUT
and GND terminals. The effect of IQ is minimized
by choosing R2 small enough to minimize the term
IQ R2 . The resistor R2 is adjusted to get the output
voltage range between 1.2 volts to 40 volts and LM117, 217, 317 – positive regulators
current upto 1.5 A. LM137, 237, 337 – negative regulators
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
The three terminal regulators have the following limitations: i) No short circuit protection, ii) Output voltage
(+ve or -ve) is fixed. The limitations have been overcome in 723 general purpose regulator, which can be adjusted
over a wide (2V to 37V) range of both positive or negative regulated voltage. This IC is a low current (150mA)
device, but can be boosted to provide 5 Amps or more current by connecting external components.
IC723 - Limitations: No in-built thermal protection, no short circuit current limits.
The important features of IC 723 regulators:
o It has small in size and lower in cost.
o It operates in positive or negative supply operation.
o It has choice of supply voltage.
o Wide variety of applications such as series, shunt, switching
and floating regulators.
o Relative simplicity with power supply can be designed.
o Low standby current gain.
o Very low temperature drift and high ripple rejection.
o Built in fold back current limiting.
o Input voltage is maximum 40 V.
o Output voltage adjustable from 2 V to 37 V.
o Output current upto 150 mA without external pass transistor.
o Load and line regulations of 0.03%.
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
Functional Diagram of IC 723: IC has two sections;
• A constant current Source:- A zener diode and a reference amplifier producing a constant voltage of about 7 volts at Vref
end. The constant current source forces the zener diode to operate at fixed point so that zener outputs a fixed voltage.
• An error amplifier:- The second section of IC 723 comprises of an error amplifier, a series pass transistor Q1 and a current
limiting transistor Q2. The error amplifier compares a sample of output voltage applied at Inverting input terminal to the
reference voltage Vref applied at the Non-Inverting input terminal. The conduction of the transistor Q1 is controlled by the
error signal.
Temperature compensated zener diode, constant current
source and reference amplifier constitutes the reference
element. In order to get a fixed voltage from zener diode,
the constant current source forces the zener to operate at a
fixed point. Output voltage is compared with this
temperature compensated reference potential of the order of
7 volts. For this Vref is connected to the non-inverting input
of the error amplifier.
Both non-inverting and inverting terminals of the error
amplifier are available on outside pins of IC 723. Due to
this, device becomes versatile and flexible to use. Only
restriction is that internal reference voltage is 7 volts. So
two different circuits are used for getting regulated outputs
of below 7 volts and above 7 volts.
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
Low Voltage Regulator:
This circuit arrangement is used for regulating voltages ranging from 2V to 7V, so it is called a low voltage
regulator. The output voltage is directly fed back to the inverting (INV) input terminal. The non-inverting input
(NI) is obtained across the potential divider formed by resistor R1 and R2. The resistor R3 selected to be equal to R1 ||
R2. voltage at NI terminal is given by
 The
VNI =
The capacitor C=0.1µF connected to the NI
input terminal prevents any noise voltage
entering the error amplifier and capacitor
C=100pF connected between the INV input
and frequency compensation terminal
provides the frequency stability. The error
amplifier amplifies the difference and it
drives the pass transistor Q1. Depending on
the error signal, the pass transistor Q1,
acting as control element, minimises the
difference between the NI and INV inputs
of error amplifier.
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
 Low Voltage Regulator:
The output voltage VO is given by VO = VNI = . So, VO = .

Assume, the output voltage

is low, the INV terminal
input goes down, it makes the
error amplifier output is
more positive. This drives
the NPN pass transistor Q1
further into conduction.
Hence, higher current is
driven into the load, thereby
causing the output voltage to
increase. This compensates
for the drop in output voltage.
Functional diagram for a Low Voltage Regulator
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
High Voltage Regulator:
To produce regulated output voltage from 7V to 37V, then below circuit is used. The NI
terminal is connected directly to Vref through R3. So the voltage at the NI terminal is Vref. The
INV input terminal is connected to the junction of resistors R1 and R2 connected with the output
VO.
 The resistor R selected to be equal to
3
R1 || R2.
The error amplifier operates as a
non-inverting amplifier with a
voltage gain of AV = 1+.

So the output voltage for the circuit is

VO = (1 +
VO = (1 + V
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
 Current Limit Protection:
Current limiting refers to the ability of a regulator to prevent the load current IL from increasing above a preset
value. The output voltage VO remains constant for load current IL below current limit Ilimit. The current limit Ilimit
is set by connecting an external resistor RSC between the terminal CL and CS. The load current is held constant to
produce a voltage across RSC sufficient to turn ON transistor Q2. The Vsense voltage is typically 0.5V.
So, Ilimit = =
This method of current limiting is also referred to as current sensing technique.
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
Current Fold back:
Fold back is a current limiting feature (a type of overload protection) of power supplies and power amplifiers.
When the load attempts to draw more current from the supply, foldback reduces both the
output voltage and current to well below the (Iknee) normal operating limits. Under a short circuit, where the
output voltage has reduced to zero, the current is typically limited to a small fraction of the maximum current.
Current fold back technique is used to limit the short circuit current and yet allow
higher currents to the load. As current demand increases, the output voltage is held
constant till a preset current level (Iknee) is reached. If the current demand exceeds this
level, both output voltage and output current decrease.
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
 Current Foldback:
• To understand the operation of circuit (c) is here. The voltage at terminal
CL is divided by R3 and R4 network. The current limit transistor Q2
conducts only when the drop across the resistance RSC is large enough to
produce a base-emitter voltage of Q2 to be at least 0.5V.
• Now, Q2 starts conducting, transistor Q1 begins to turn OFF and the
current IL decreases. This reduces the voltage V1 at the emitter of Q1 and
also the output voltage Vo. The output voltage at the base of Q2 (CL)
will be x .
• The voltage at the CL terminal drops by a smaller amount compared to
the drop in voltage at CS terminal. This increases VBE of Q2 thereby
increasing the conduction of Q2, which in turn reduces the conduction
of Q1.
• That is, the current IL further reduces. This process continues till VO =0V
and V1 is just large enough to keep 0.5V between CL and CS terminal.
• This point is ISC and has been reduced by lowering both IL and VO.
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
Design a regulator using IC 723 to meet the following specifications. V 0=5V,I0=100mA,Vin=15+ 20%; Isc=150mA
Vsense=0.7V
 IC 723 General Purpose Regulator
Design a regulator using IC 723 to meet the following specifications. V 0=5V,I0=100mA,Vin=15+ 20%; Isc=150mA
Vsense=0.7V
 Switching Regulator
Switching regulators differ in design, construction & operation compared to linear voltage
regulators. In switching regulators the output voltage is regulated by controlling the
switching time of feedback circuitry (which includes a reference voltage); that is by adjusting
the duty cycle.
The whole operation is completely different when compared to a linear voltage
regulator. Here, the series pass transistor is not used as an amplifier, but used as a switch.
That is, instead of the transistor working in the active region, it is made to switch between the
saturation region or cut-off region. Thus, the power dissipation is lessened and thus can carry
heavy load currents at low voltages with less bulky heat sinks. Thus, this regulator finds its
extensive use in personal computers. The switching regulator can also called as Switched Mode
Power Supply (SMPS).

There are three basic configuration:

i) Step-down / Buck switching regulator,
ii) Step-up / Boost switching regulator and
iii) Inverted switching regulator.
 Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
Step-down / Buck Switching Regulator:
The rectangular pulses are given to the base of the transistor Q1. During each cycle of the pulse
the transistor Q1 changes between saturation and cut-off. This creates a rectangular voltage at
the input to LC filter. The ac components of the input voltage is blocked / bypassed by the filter
and the dc component is allowed to pass through the filter. As the transistor keeps switching, the
average value will always be lesser than the input voltage. So it is known as “step-down”
switching regulator.
The reference voltage Vref is obtained from the
unregulated input voltage with the use of a Zener diode
D2. The error circuit compares the regulated output
voltage with the Vref voltage. The error circuit output
operates the pulse width modulator.
If the output voltage is less than the Vref  voltage, the
error signal is generated. This causes the width of the
pulses to increase, so increasing the output voltage.
If the output voltage is more than the Vref  voltage, the
error signal is reduces the pulse width which results in
reducing the output voltage.
 Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
Step-up / Boost Switching Regulator:
Step-up switching converters, also called boost switching regulators. The voltage induced in
the inductor L is made to add up to the input voltage. So, output voltage is more than the
input voltage.
The rectangular pulses are given to the base of the
transistor Q1. During each cycle of the pulse the
transistor Q1 changes between saturation and cut-
off. When the transistor Q1 is saturated the current
flows through the inductor L. When the transistor
Q1 switches to cut-off a large voltage will be
induced across the inductor coil because of the
sudden collapse of the magnetic field around it.
Thus the current keeps flowing in the same
direction. This circuit is called a “step-up”
switching regulator because the voltage induced by
the inductor will be larger than the input voltage.
 Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
Inverted Switching Regulator:
When the transistor is saturated, the current flows through the inductor. When the transistor Q1
switches to cut-off a large voltage will be induced across the inductor coil because of the sudden
collapse of the magnetic field around it. Thus the current keeps flowing in the same direction.
Since the transistor Q1 is cut-off, the only path is through the capacitor. If the direction of
charging current through the capacitor is checked, output voltage is found to be negative.
 Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
The input D.C. Supply is chopped at a higher frequency around 15 to 50 kHz using an active device like the BJT,
power MOSFET or SCR and the converter transformer. Here the size of the ferrite core reduces inversely with the
frequency. The lower limit is around 5 kHz for silent operation and an upper limit of 50 kHz to limit the losses in
the choke and in active switching elements. The transformed wave form is rectified and filtered. A sample of the
output voltage is used as the feedback signal for the drive circuit for the switching transistor to achieve regulation.

Block diagram of SMPS

Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
 Switched Mode Power Supply
(SMPS)
The SMPS provide electrical isolation between input and
output.
• This isolation can be provided by transformers in
SMPS.
• Input is AC and Output is regulated DC.
• The bridge rectifier and capacitor filters are connected
directly to the AC mains.
• Two transistors Q1 & Q2 are drive the primary of the
main transformer.
• Secondary is centre-tapped and full wave rectification is
achieved by diodes D1 & D2.
• Two stage LC filters are used to filtered the
unidirectional square wave to produce regulated DC
output voltage VO.
• The regulated DC serves as a power supply for all other
circuits.
• The regulation is achieved by Pulse Width Modulator
(PWM) and steering logic circuit.
• Output voltage is sampled by voltage divider R1 and R2
• Steering logic circuit controls the alternative ON and
Switched Mode Power Supply
(SMPS)
 Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
Advantages of SMPS:
• Better efficiency than linear regulated power supply.
• Very high frequency signals can be applied.
• The transistors in SMPS consume negligibly small power.
• High operating frequency used for the switching transistors allows the use of small
transformers, capacitors and inductors.
• This allows a decrease in size and cost.
Disadvantages of SMPS:
• The rectifiers, capacitors and switching transistors must be able to withstand the peak line
voltage.
• The resistor Rt must be provided to prevent the uncharged capacitors from shorting out the
line.
• SMPS is more complex and requires external components like inductors, transformers and
capacitors.
• It is slow in responding to transient load changes.
• May cause electromagnetic and radiofrequency interference.
 IC L8038 Function Generator
A Function Generator or sometimes called a Waveform Generator is a device or circuit that
produces a variety of different waveform at a desired frequency. It can generate Sine waves,
Square waves, Triangular and Saw tooth waveform as well as other types of output waveform.

ICL8038 a precision waveform generator IC capable

of producing sine, square and triangular output
waveforms, with a minimum number of external
components or adjustments. Its operating frequency
range can be selected over eight decades of
frequency, from 0.001Hz to 300kHz, by the correct
choice of the external R-C components.
There is an option to control the parameters like
frequency, duty cycle and distortion of these
functions. The ICL 8038 has to be operated from a
dual power supply.
 IC L8038 Function Generator
Basic Principle:
The main part of waveform generator is a VCO, that is generates triangular and square waves.
Sine-wave is generated from triangular wave by passing through a wave shaper circuit. The
grounded capacitor arrangement is used in the waveform generator ICL8038.
When switch is in position A, the capacitor
charges rate fixed by the current source IA.
When voltage across capacitor reaches the VUT
of Schmitt trigger, it changes the state and flips
the switch to position B.
The capacitor C now discharges through the
current sink IB. When voltage across capacitor
reaches the VLT of Schmitt trigger, it triggers
flipping the switch to position A. This
sequence produces the waveforms. The current
source IA and current sink IB can be made
programmable through the control voltage Vi.
 IC L8038 Function Generator
The circuit here is designed to produce waveforms from 20Hz to 20 kHz. The external resistors and capacitors
plays a great role in working of this circuit as it decides the frequency, duty cycle of the waveform produced. The
resistors Ra and Rb is known as the timing resistors, where Ra controls the rising portion of the triangle, sine and
high state of square wave.
If Ra is equal to Rb then 50% duty cycle is achieved. A 1k
Potentiometer  is equal to alter the duty cycle of the obtained
waveform. The large resistor on pin 5 helps reducing the
sweep variations with duty cycle. The pins 7 & 8 of the IC
is meant for FM Bias and FM sweep input. Here both pins
are shorted together and connected to a variable resistor
 10k, altering the resistance value of  will result in change in
frequency of the output wave. The sine wave from the pin 2
will seem distorted and in order to minimize this a variable
resistor of 100K is connected to pin 12. Varying the
resistance using this will reduce the distortion in the output
sine wave. The average levels of the sine and triangle wave
are one half of the supply voltage but square wave alternates
between V+ and ground. Hence a pull up resistor of 15k is
used at the output pin 2 to make the square wave switch
between V+ and ground.