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US 11,635,778 B2Granted
Voltage regulator circuit
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsYongjie Jiang, Pablo Moreno-Galbis, Stanley Bo-Ting Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A voltage regulator circuit is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a feedback circuit configured to generate a feedback signal based on a voltage level present on a regulated power supply node. A comparison circuit is arranged to generate an error signal based on the feedback signal and a reference voltage level. A compensation circuit is configured to modify the error signal, based on a routing impedance coupled between the regulated supply voltage node and a load circuit, to generate a control circuit. An output circuit of the voltage regulator is configured to source current to the regulated power supply node based on the control signal.
Claims20
A circuit comprising:
- a feedback circuit configured to generate a feedback signal using a voltage level of a regulated power supply node;
- a comparison circuit configured to generate an error signal using the feedback signal and a reference voltage level;
- a compensation circuit configured to modify, based on an impedance of a route coupled between the regulated power supply node and a load circuit, the error signal to generate a control signal;
- an output circuit configured to source, based on the control signal, a current to the regulated power supply node;
- and
- a gain control circuit coupled to the compensation circuit and the output circuit, wherein the gain control circuit configured to generate, based on the control signal, a modified control signal, wherein the output circuit is configured to change the current to the regulated power supply node based on changes to the modified control signal, wherein the gain control circuit includes a first resistor and a capacitor coupled in parallel with the first resistor, and wherein a frequency response of the gain control circuit is dependent on a pole-zero pair whose respective frequencies are based on the first resistor and the capacitor.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- sourcing, by a voltage regulator circuit, a current to a regulated power supply node;
- performing a comparison of a voltage level of the regulated power supply node to a reference voltage;
- adjusting a value of the current using results of the comparison;
- stabilizing, using the results of the comparison, a frequency response of the voltage regulator circuit using at least one compensation pole whose frequency is based on an impedance of a route coupling the voltage regulator circuit to a load circuit, wherein stabilizing the frequency response of the voltage regulator circuit includes a compensation circuit generating a first control signal based on the comparison and further comprises providing the first control signal to a gain control circuit;
- and
- controlling a frequency response of the gain control circuit using a pole-zero pair whose respective frequencies are based on a first resistor and a capacitor coupled across the first resistor.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a feedback circuit configured to generate a feedback signal using a voltage level of a regulated power supply node;
- an error amplifier circuit configured to generate an error signal using the feedback signal and a reference voltage;
- a compensation circuit coupled to the regulated power supply node via a capacitor, wherein the compensation circuit is configured to modify the error signal, using the voltage level of the regulated power supply node, to generate a first control signal;
- an output circuit configured to source a current to the regulated power supply node, wherein a value of the current is based on a value of the first control signal;
- and
- a gain control circuit configured to generate a second control signal based on the first control signal, wherein the gain control circuit is coupled to provide the second control signal to the output circuit, wherein the gain control circuit includes first and second resistors coupled in series between respective gate terminals of first and second transistors coupled to a first current mirror configured to cause respective current densities through the first and second transistors to be equal such that respective voltages across the first and second resistors are independent with respect to variations in the current to the regulated power supply node.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.