Resistor Networks

A resistor network is a series of resistors configured into a given pattern. These networks commonly use resistors connected end-to-end with each other in series. However, in certain cases, there are variations in which they are connected in parallel or series-parallel sequences similar to a ladder. In all situations, the resistors used in these networks all function as voltage dividers, which can divide the voltage applied to the circuit into smaller portions. These are designed to offer fractional supply voltages in different circuits or to operate digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion functions. 

What is a Resistor, and How Does it Work in a Resistor Network?

Resistors are electronic parts that oppose the progression of electrical flow by scattering its voltage in a way called dropping. A resistor will drop the level of a circuit's voltage. That rate is equivalent to the worth of a given resistor in ohms when contrasted with the circuit's complete resistance. For instance, a 10-ohm resistor will drop 10% of the voltage in a circuit that has 100 ohms worth of resistance.

If a resistor network has five 1-ohm resistors, set in series, and a 5-volt power supply is associated, every five resistors would drop one-fifth of the 5 volts, or 1 volt each. A resistor network, along these lines, can give partial power supply voltages to different circuits. Since the voltage drop across any resistor is equivalent to that resistor's worth in ohms, when contrasted with the whole circuit's opposition, basically any voltage that is not exactly the applied voltage is conceivable in a resistor network.

For instance, assuming four resistors were associated in series, with three estimating 1 ohm and the fourth measuring 2 ohms, the complete circuit resistance would be 5 ohms. While the three 1-ohm resistors will drop 1 volt each, the 2-ohm resistor will drop 2 volts. Interfacing a circuit to that point in the resistor network will give a 2-volt power source.

Other Uses of Resistor Network

There are some other uses of resistor networks as well. Suppose, instead of utilizing the portions between the resistors to offer varying voltages, they are all utilized to provide the same voltage. In that case, it can effectively utilize the network to convert analog signals into digital data. This can be done by connecting a digital gate to each voltage point in the network. 

When applying a simple analog signal, separating the voltage will give a progression of heightening high or low voltages, contingent upon the input signal, which the automatic doors read as on or off. The gateways will then, at that point, send that data on to different circuits as ones or zeroes, changing the analog signal completely to computerized data.

Resistor Network Configuration

You can configure resistors in a series-parallel way, known as an R-2R network. In this configuration, the digital gates insert high or low voltage representing ones or zeroes into the point between the resistors and the network. This results in a complete voltage drop across the resistors in the network to differ proportionally to the voltage drop throughout the resistors in the network that differs proportionally to the entire input, instead of simply turning on and off the individual digital units. Outputs you get from these networks are frequently varying analog signals produced from digital signals.