A current divider circuit is an electrical circuit configuration used to split an electric current into multiple branches. It consists of a single current source (e.g., a power supply or a current generator) connected to two or more parallel resistive elements. Each resistive element represents a load or a branch in the circuit.
The primary function of a current divider circuit is to allocate the total current from the source among the different branches in proportion to their resistances. The currents in each branch are inversely proportional to the resistances of the branches. That is, the branch with a lower resistance will carry a higher current, and the branch with a higher resistance will carry a lower current.
The ability of a current divider circuit to split current effectively depends on the relative values of the resistances in each branch. Mathematically, the current in each branch (I_1, I_2, I_3, ... I_n) can be calculated using the following formula:
I_1 = (V / R_1)
I_2 = (V / R_2)
I_3 = (V / R_3)
...
I_n = (V / R_n)
where:
V is the total voltage supplied by the current source.
R_1, R_2, R_3, ..., R_n are the resistances of each branch.
I_1, I_2, I_3, ..., I_n are the currents in each branch.
It's essential to note that the sum of currents in all branches always equals the total current provided by the source:
I_total = I_1 + I_2 + I_3 + ... + I_n
For the current divider to work efficiently and accurately split the current, the following conditions are usually required:
The internal resistance of the current source should be negligible compared to the resistances in the branches.
The connections between branches should be ideal (no stray capacitance or inductance causing interactions between branches).
The voltage across all branches is the same since they are connected in parallel.
By using different resistor values in each branch, a current divider circuit allows designers to control the amount of current flowing through different parts of a circuit, enabling more precise control and distribution of power in electronic systems. Current dividers are commonly used in various applications, including power supply design, analog signal processing, and current-sharing in parallel circuits.