Detailed explanation of the principles of voltage divider circuits and shunt circuits

In electronic circuit design, voltage divider circuits and shunt circuits are two common and important circuit types. They play a key role in measuring voltage, current, and signal processing. Understanding the working principles of these two circuits can help engineers and electronics enthusiasts better design and apply various electronic devices. This article will start with the basic concepts of voltage divider circuits and shunt circuits, and analyze their principles and applications in detail.

The voltage dividing circuit uses multipleresistanceSeries connection, a circuit that distributes voltage to obtain the required voltage value. The core idea is to distribute the total voltage to each resistor according to the resistance ratio of the resistor, thereby achieving voltage division. Voltage divider circuits are widely used in voltage measurement, signal conditioning and power supply design.

The principle of a voltage divider circuit is based on Ohm's law (V=IR) and the voltage distribution characteristics of series resistors. The currents in a series resistor are equal, while the voltage is divided proportionally to the resistor value. Assume that there are two resistors R1 and R2 connected in series, the total voltage is V, and the total current is I, then the voltages across the resistors are V1=IR1 and V2=IR2 respectively. By choosing appropriate resistor values, the desired voltage divider output can be obtained.

Voltage divider circuits are often used for voltage detection and signal conditioning. For example, when the input terminal of the microcontroller cannot withstand high voltage, the input voltage is reduced through a voltage divider circuit to protect the chip safety. In addition, voltage divider circuits are usedPotentiometerAdjust volume, light brightness, etc.

Shunt circuits are mainly used to measure current. The current is usually calculated by connecting a resistor with a known small resistance (called a shunt resistor) in series in the circuit and measuring the voltage drop across it. The key to a shunt circuit is to measure current indirectly through the relationship between voltage and current.

The shunt circuit uses Ohm's law to calculate the current I=V/R through the known shunt resistance R and the measured voltage drop V. Since the resistance of the shunt resistor is very small, it can minimize the impact on the main circuit while ensuring measurement accuracy.

Shunt circuits are widely used in current sensing, power management and protection circuits. For example, the battery management system monitors charge and discharge current through shunt resistors to ensure battery safety; the motor control system uses shunt circuits to achieve overcurrent protection.

Although voltage divider circuits and shunt circuits both involve voltage and resistance, their functions and applications are different. The voltage divider circuit is mainly used for voltage division and regulation, while the shunt circuit is used for current measurement. Both are based on Ohm's law, and both require precise selection of resistor parameters to ensure accurate measurements.

When designing a voltage dividing circuit, the load effect should be considered to avoid inaccurate voltage division due to load changes. The shunt circuit design needs to select a shunt resistor with low resistance value and sufficient power to prevent excessive power consumption and heat. At the same time, the internal resistance of the measuring instrument will also affect the measurement results and should be matched reasonably.

Voltage divider circuits and shunt circuits are basic circuits in electronic measurement and are used for voltage division and current measurement respectively. By rationally designing and applying these two circuits, efficient and accurate electrical parameter detection and control can be achieved. Mastering their principles and applications is of great significance for electronic engineers and technicians to improve their circuit design capabilities. We hope that the explanation in this article can help readers deeply understand the core principles of voltage divider circuits and shunt circuits, and provide strong support for practical applications.