# US 12,113,428 B2 · Regulator circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,428 B2 - Document ID: US12113428B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/688,631 - Filed: 2022-12-06 - Published: 2024-08-15 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-06 - Assignees: Renesas Design (UK) Limited - Applicants: Renesas Design (UK) Limited - Inventors: Youzhong Liu; Yanzhao Wang; Yanjun Li; Yixuan Ma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113428B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/0019: {the disturbance parameters being load current fluctuations} - H02M 1/0045: {Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode} - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H05B 45/14: using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules - H05B 45/3725: Switched mode power supply [SMPS] - H05B 45/395: Linear regulators - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A regulator circuit is presented. The regulation circuit (530) has a regulation switch (131), a voltage comparator (537) with predetermined offset voltage and an adjuster. The regulation switch (131) has a first terminal coupled to a current source (132), a second terminal connectable to a load (110), and a control terminal. The voltage comparator (537) compares a sum voltage of the offset voltage added to a voltage at the second terminal with a control voltage at the control terminal, and generates a comparison signal. The adjuster adjusts the voltage at the second terminal based on the comparison signal to control a difference voltage between the control terminal and the second terminal of the regulation switch and to maintain the regulation switch operating in a desired region of operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A regulator circuit comprising a regulation switch having a first terminal coupled to a current source, a second terminal connectable to a load, and a control terminal; a voltage comparator comprising a predetermined offset voltage, the voltage comparator being adapted to compare a sum voltage of the offset voltage added to a voltage at the second terminal with a control voltage at the control terminal, and to generate a comparison signal; and an adjuster adapted to adjust the voltage at the second terminal based on the comparison signal to control a difference voltage between the control terminal and the second terminal of the regulation switch and to maintain the regulation switch operating in a desired region of operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The regulator circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset voltage is adjustable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The regulator circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset voltage is equal or substantially equal to a threshold voltage of the regulation switch to operate the regulation switch between a linear region and a saturation region, or wherein the predetermined offset voltage is greater than the threshold voltage of the regulation switch to operate the regulation switch in the linear region or wherein the predetermined offset voltage is lower than the threshold voltage of the regulation switch to operate the regulation switch in the saturation region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The regulator circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the difference voltage is substantially equal to the offset voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The regulator circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load has an input terminal for receiving an input voltage from a power supply and an output terminal coupled to the regulation switch; and wherein the adjuster is adapted to adjust the voltage at the second terminal by varying the input voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The regulator circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the adjuster is adapted to receive the comparison signal from the voltage comparator and to generate a control signal to control an amount of current to draw from the power supply. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The current regulator as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the sum voltage is greater than the control voltage, the comparison signal has a first state, and when the sum voltage is lower than the control voltage, the comparison signal has a second state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The current regulator as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the comparison signal is in the first state the amount of current to draw is reduced to decrease the input voltage; and when the comparison signal is in the second state the amount of current to draw is increased to increase the input voltage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The current regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjuster comprises a digital circuit, a register, and a sink current controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The current regulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage comparator comprises an offset transistor having the same physical properties as the regulation switch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A driver for driving a semiconductor light source, the driver comprising a regulator circuit as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The driver as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a power supply coupled to the regulator circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A device comprising a driver as claimed in claim 11 coupled to a semiconductor light source, the driver being adapted to regulate a current flowing through the semiconductor light source; the device further comprising a power supply coupled to the semiconductor light source. ### Claim 14 A method of operating a regulation switch, the method comprising providing a regulation switch having a first terminal coupled to a current source, a second terminal connectable to a load, and a control terminal; providing a voltage comparator comprising a predetermined offset voltage; comparing, using the voltage comparator, a sum voltage of the offset voltage added to a voltage at the second terminal with the control voltage at the control terminal and generating a comparison signal; and adjusting the voltage at the second terminal based on the comparison signal to control a difference voltage between the control terminal and the second terminal of the regulation switch and to maintain the regulation switch operating in a desired region of operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the load has an input terminal for receiving an input voltage from a power supply and an output terminal coupled to the regulation switch; and the method comprises varying the input voltage to adjust the voltage at the second terminal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising controlling an amount of current to draw from the power supply based on the comparison signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein when the sum voltage is greater than the control voltage, the comparison signal has a first state, and when the sum voltage is lower than the control voltage, the comparison signal has a second state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein when the comparison signal is in the first state the amount of current to draw is reduced to decrease the input voltage; and when the comparison signal is in the second state the amount of current to draw is increased to increase the input voltage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the regulation switch has a threshold voltage, the method comprising setting the predetermined offset voltage to a value substantially equal to a threshold voltage to operate the regulation switch between a linear region and a saturation region, or setting the predetermined offset voltage to a value greater than the threshold voltage of the regulation switch to operate the regulation switch in the linear region, or setting the predetermined offset voltage to a value lower than the threshold voltage of the regulation switch to operate the regulation switch in the saturation region.