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The Miracle of the Villard Circuit: Why Does This Simple Circuit Get You Double the Voltage?
In the world of electronic circuits, how to effectively control voltage changes has always been a hot topic for scientists. Villard circuit, as a classic voltage multiplier, has attracted widespread attention due to its simple design. How exactly does this circuit work? What kind of practical applications does it bring to us?
Basic Principles of Villard Circuit
A Villard circuit consists of a diode and a capacitor. When AC voltage enters the circuit, the capacitor charges during the negative half cycle to the peak voltage (Vpk). At this time, the role of the diode is to "clamp" the negative peak to 0 V, so that the positive peak becomes 2Vpk.
The output of the Villard circuit is the superposition of the input AC waveform and the steady-state DC value of the capacitor.
However, although this circuit is known for its simplicity, the ripple characteristics of its output are quite unsatisfactory. This large pulsation characteristic limits the application of Villard circuits, especially in electronic devices that require higher stability.
The evolution from Villard to Greinacher
The Greinacher circuit is an improved version of the Villard circuit. It introduces a more complex circuit structure to reduce the output ripple and achieve almost zero ripple under open-circuit load conditions. The Greinacher circuit is often called a half-wave voltage doubler.
The main feature of the Greinacher circuit is that it removes most of the ripple while maintaining the output peak voltage.
The success of this circuit has enabled the use of many high-voltage electronic devices, especially in applications that require a stable operating voltage, such as the magnetron power supply of microwave ovens.
Delon circuit and its application
The Delon circuit is a full-wave voltage doubler designed to provide a stable double voltage between input and output. This circuit was first widely used in cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions when display technology emerged to provide the necessary high voltage source.
The characteristic of the Delon circuit is that it uses two half-wave peak detectors to obtain a stable output voltage.
With the development of technology, this architecture has also been applied to other electronic devices, showing its versatility and applicability.
The emergence of switched capacitor circuits
In recent years, the emergence of switched capacitor circuits has provided a new option for low voltage applications. These circuits are able to convert the voltage of a DC source into a voltage multiplier, especially where the load power demand is high.
In a switched capacitor circuit, two capacitors are charged in parallel and then switched to series to double the voltage.
Such circuits could be used in battery-powered electronic devices to allow them to operate at low voltages and still provide the required power.
Application of Dickson Charge Pump
The Dickson charge pump is another highly efficient voltage multiplier. It consists of a series of diodes and capacitors that are charged and switched using clock pulses. This circuit is often used in integrated circuits, especially when the battery voltage is low.
The core of the Dickson multiplier is that it uses a single clock signal to achieve a circuit multiplication effect.
This makes Dickson circuits the choice for many portable electronic devices because they are able to provide the required power in a low voltage environment.
Prospects for future voltage multiplication technology
With the continuous advancement of technology, we can foresee more innovative solutions in voltage multiplication technology. For example, cross-coupled switched capacitor circuits are designed for very low input voltages, which is particularly important for the development of wireless devices.
These technologies make it possible to keep devices operating even when the battery voltage is less than one volt.
This continuously evolving voltage multiplication technology not only provides power support for various electronic devices, but also makes us full of expectations for the design and innovation of future electronic products.
With so many different voltage multiplication technologies available, can we foresee more efficient energy utilization and more innovative application scenarios?
