The purpose of a voltage divider circuit is to divide a voltage into smaller, proportional voltages. It consists of a series connection of two or more resistors, which create a voltage drop across each resistor. The output voltage is taken from the connection between these resistors.
Voltage dividers are commonly used in electronic circuits for various purposes, such as:
Signal level shifting: When you have a voltage that is too high for a particular component or device, a voltage divider can be used to reduce the voltage to a suitable level.
Biasing: In electronic circuits, certain components (e.g., transistors) require specific bias voltages for proper operation. A voltage divider can be used to provide these bias voltages.
Sensor interfacing: Some sensors provide an output voltage that is higher than the operating voltage range of the connected circuit. A voltage divider can scale down the sensor output voltage to a level that can be safely processed by the circuit.
Analog-to-digital conversion: In analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), a voltage divider can be used to scale down the input voltage so that it falls within the measurable range of the ADC.
Setting reference voltages: Voltage dividers can be used to generate reference voltages for comparison purposes in various applications, such as in voltage regulators.
The output voltage of a voltage divider is calculated using the formula:
Vout = Vin * (R2 / (R1 + R2))
Where:
Vout = Output voltage
Vin = Input voltage
R1 = Resistance of the first resistor
R2 = Resistance of the second resistor
It's essential to consider the resistor values carefully, as the output voltage will depend on their ratios. Also, voltage dividers are not suitable for applications with high current requirements because the current flows through the resistors, leading to power dissipation and potential voltage drop issues. In such cases, other voltage regulation methods, like voltage regulators or buck converters, may be more appropriate.