Low drop-out voltage regulator and method

Abstract

A low drop-out voltage regulator (300) and method comprising: a differential transistor arrangement (Q1-Q2) for receiving a reference voltage and in dependence thereon producing a regulatred output voltage; an output stage (Q3) for coupling to a load; and a control loop (310) coupled to the differential transistor arrangement for providing a dominant pole. Since a load capacitance is not used for dominant pole, stability of operation may be obtained with a lower load capacitance. The output stage is preferably a closed-loop unity gain amplifier providing a low impedance output. This provides the following advantages: 1—The output capacitor can be dramatically reduced or removed (a low dominant pole, allows the regulator to worth with 0nF output capacitor). 2—internal power consumption can be reduced, improving regulator efficiency. 3—Low output impedance is provided, with very low DC output resistance. 4—The load capacitor can have zero ESR (equivalent serial resistance).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.