bandgap and regulator

[alok_ky]

What is the difference between a voltage bandgap and a voltage regulator ???

 

[v_c]

They both do produce a controlled voltage. A bandgap is a circuit (usually with temperature compensation) that is mostly used a constant stable reference voltage.

A regulator (for example a linear regulator) is a circuit which uses a series transistor as a variable resitor to regulate the voltage across a load. In order to provide a constant output a feedback loop is established usually comparing the output voltage (or a portion of the output voltage, using a resistive divider) to a known reference voltage (like a bandgap reference from above). So a bandgap is an integral part of the regulator system.

Best regards,
v_c

 

[jc2]

Rout(regulator)<Rout(bandgap)

 

[kenlino]

I agree with v_c.
"a bandgap is an integral part of the regulator system."
regulator can make bandgap's load characteristics more excellent.

 

[surianova]

What is the difference between a voltage bandgap and a voltage regulator ???

Both provide DC output voltage but regulator has the capability to drive resistive load but bandgap cannot and bandgap only can drive capacitive load.

 

[kwkam]

Bandgap is a kind of circuit to provide a temperature independene voltage reference.
Voltage regulator is a circuit to keep a node voltage constant. And usually it require a voltage reference.

 

[afujian]

yes, in my opinion,bandgap can not drive a resistor load,for if the current through the output branch changed,the positive and negative TC will not counterbalance each other.

 

[keith1200rs]

You can draw 'some' current from a bandgap reference - you need to check the specifications. Some 'shunt' bandgaps can be used as low power voltage regulators.

Keith

 

[love_analog]

bandgap+ buffer=regulator