"Digital" Regulation

[arowana]

Hi electronics experts, I've come across specs on some flashlights that says the current is "digitally" regulated. A search on CPF and the net did not produce any explanation on the digital part specifically..

I'm just curious is it just something common to all current regulation and the 'digital' is just a marketing word to make it sound more high tech? Or is it really something advantageous and uncommon?

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm assuming that it means the lights aren't just connected to unregulated power. This probably doesn't mean that it's regulated with quality electronics, in the case of mass produced stuff.

My 2 cents before the experts pipe in. :)

 

[arowana]

Thanks CanadianGuy. :)

 

[Linger]

and the 'digital' is just a marketing word to make it sound more high tech?

Yes.
Sorry, i'm not your expert.
Just think, where have you seen an 'analogue regulated' tactical LED? nope, regulation is through a circuit, thus digital,
Best,
L

 

[Marduke]

I think it is meant to seperate itself from things like linear boost circuits.

 

[Mr Happy]

Strictly speaking, digital regulation should mean that some form of digital computer is directly involved in the regulation. A good example of this is the Hotwire Regulator 'Programmable Hotwire Driver' being discussed in other threads here. This regulator measures the voltage via an A-to-D converter and digitally computes the output signal to adjust the power to the bulb.

In contrast an analog regulator uses analog circuitry (normal transistors and op. amps.) to measure the voltage or current and generate the output or feedback signal.

Digital systems can potentially provide more sophisticated and accurate control than analog systems, but only if they are designed and programmed well.

 

[VidPro]

and in the same sence as what Mr happy said, there is good and bad digital (in all areas of digital) and good and bad analog (in all areas of analog) and it doesnt mater if its digital or analog, its how well thought out and designed it is, and how Actually efficient and correct it is.

 

[2xTrinity]

Yes.
Sorry, i'm not your expert.
Just think, where have you seen an 'analogue regulated' tactical LED? nope, regulation is through a circuit, thus digital,

Regulation through a circuit means it's electronically regulated, not digitally regulated. The majority of regulators in flashlights are purely analog circuits. Even ones that have digital microcontrollers to switch between different output levels do the regulating using analog circuits. The only exception I can think of off the top of my head is the PWM incan regulator mentioned earlier in the thread, where the driver digitizes the output waveform and actually calculations to find the average (RMS) power dissipation using a processor. That's a very unusual application.

In the case of tactical flashlights, which tend to be single output mode, they are almost certainly driven by analog ciruitry alone. They're just not advertized as "Analog regulated" because of a marketing connotation that analog = old/bad and digital = new/good.

Regulation is accomplished by feeding back the voltage drop across a sense resistor (equivalent to the current) and comparing it to the voltage across a highly accurate voltage reference inside the chip. Since the comparison is between voltages (not discrete sequences of 1's and 0's) it is analog, not digitial.

I think it is meant to seperate itself from things like linear boost circuits.

It's possible to have a regulated boost or buck circuit without explicitly digitizing anything. Just because a circuit is switching mode or PWM doesn't necessarily mean it's digital.

 

[CM]

Most manufacturers (Linear, TI, National) categorize switched mode power supplies as "analog" circuits. The term "digital regulation" is marketing speak. Regulation tends to be analog in nature, but may be aided with a microcontroller in the loop, or in some cases, open loop. I tend to view LED circuits as analog, not digital. Talk to a real analog engineer and you'll see what I mean.