US 11,378,991 B1 · Soft-start circuit for voltage regulator

Abstract

A soft-start circuit for a voltage regulator includes a comparator and a delay circuit. The comparator compares an output voltage, that is generated by the voltage regulator, and a reference voltage to generate a comparison signal. Further, the delay circuit receives the reference voltage and a control signal that is outputted based on the comparison signal, and outputs and provides another reference voltage to the voltage regulator. During a start-up of the voltage regulator, the reference voltage outputted by the delay circuit is a delayed version of the reference voltage received by the delay circuit. Thus, the soft-start circuit mitigates an overshoot of the output voltage during the start-up. Further, on completion of the start-up, the reference voltage outputted by the delay circuit is equal to the reference voltage received by the delay circuit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A soft-start circuit for a voltage regulator, the soft-start circuit comprising:

a comparator that is coupled with the voltage regulator, and configured to compare an output voltage, that is generated by the voltage regulator, and a first reference voltage directly input to the comparator to generate a comparison signal;
and
a delay circuit that is coupled with the voltage regulator, and configured to receive a first control signal, that is outputted based on the comparison signal, and the first reference voltage, and output and provide a second reference voltage to the voltage regulator, wherein during a start-up of the voltage regulator, the second reference voltage is a delayed version of the first reference voltage and after completion of the startup, the second reference voltage is equal to the first reference voltage.

A system-on-chip (SoC), comprising:

a voltage regulator that is configured to generate an output voltage;
and
a soft-start circuit that is coupled with the voltage regulator, wherein the soft-start circuit comprises:
a comparator that is coupled with the voltage regulator, and configured to compare the output voltage and a first reference voltage directly input to the comparator to generate a comparison signal;
and
a delay circuit that is coupled with the voltage regulator, and configured to receive a first control signal, that is outputted based on the comparison signal, and the first reference voltage, and output and provide a second reference voltage to the voltage regulator, wherein during a start-up of the voltage regulator, the second reference voltage is a delayed version of the first reference voltage and after completion of the startup, the second reference voltage is equal to the first reference voltage.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Soft-start circuit for voltage regulator

Life of this patent

Soft-start circuit for voltage regulator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20