The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), with its emphasis on real-time monitoring and control, has led to an explosion in the number of sensors attached to industrial machines and processes (Fig. 1). Many of the quantities being measured are analog in nature, including pressure, temperature, and flow.
1. The automated factory depends on accurate data from multiple analog sensors. (Source: TI blog: “How to ensure precision in automated processes”)
A typical data-acquisition system consists of a precision analog front end connected to the sensor, followed by an analog-to-digital converter that sends information over a wired or wireless connection to a gateway and then to the cloud.
Switching vs. Linear Regulators—A (Very) Short Overview
The power supply to an industrial data-acquisition system typically consists of a mix of switching and linear regulators. Each type of design has its strengths and weaknesses. At its heart, a switching design relies on a power transistor that changes the analog input voltage into a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) pulse train whose duty cycle depends on the output voltage and current. The topology chosen depends on the application. A switching regulator can convert an input voltage to a higher level (boost), a lower level (buck), or even convert a positive voltage to a negative voltage.
Switching regulators are highly efficient—up to 95% or higher—so a compact design can handle large amounts of power. The high efficiency makes a switching regulator the preferred choice for larger power-conversion tasks, such as providing an industrial rack with system dc power. To address that space, Texas Instruments has developed a wide array of switching regulators.