Regulator Circuit with Multiple Supply Voltages

A method for providing a regulated output voltage using multiple power supplies, the method comprising:

• powering a first driver using a first power supply having a first magnitude;
• powering a second driver using a second power supply having a second magnitude that is less than the first magnitude;
• receiving an input voltage;
• receiving a control voltage having a magnitude just below the second magnitude;
• comparing the input voltage with a control voltage;
• enabling either the first driver or the second driver to become an active driver based on said comparing;
• and
• providing the regulated output voltage using the active driver, wherein the regulated output voltage is a function of the input voltage.

A method for providing a regulated output signal using multiple power supplies, the method comprising;

• powering a plurality of drivers using a plurality of power supplies, wherein each power supply of the plurality of power supplies has a different magnitude, wherein said powering the plurality of drivers comprises powering each driver of the plurality of drivers using a different power supply of the plurality of power supplies;
• receiving a plurality of control signals, wherein each control signal of the plurality of control signals corresponds to a respective power supply of the plurality of power supplies and has a magnitude just below a magnitude of the corresponding respective power supply;
• receiving an input signal;
• comparing the input signal with each control signal;
• enabling one of the plurality of drivers to become active to operate as an active driver based on said comparing, wherein said enabling comprises keeping all remaining ones of the plurality of drivers inactive;
• and
• providing the regulated output signal using the active driver, wherein the regulated output signal is a function of the input signal.

A voltage regulator system comprising:

• an input terminal configured to receive an input voltage;
• an output terminal configured to provide a regulated output voltage, wherein the regulated output voltage is a function of the input voltage;
• a plurality of power supplies, wherein each one of the plurality of power supplies has a different magnitude;
• a plurality of drivers, wherein each respective driver of the plurality of drivers is configured to be powered by a different one of the plurality of power supplies and has a respective driver output coupled to the output terminal to drive the regulated output voltage when the respective driver is active;
• a first circuit operable to generate a plurality of control signals, wherein each one of the plurality of control signals corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of power supplies and has a magnitude just below a magnitude of the corresponding respective one of the power supplies;
• and
• a second circuit operable enable one of the plurality of drivers to be active, and further operable to compare the input voltage with each one of at least a subset of the plurality of control voltages to determine which one of the plurality of drivers to enable;
• wherein the second circuit is operable to enable one of the plurality of drivers to be active while keeping all other ones of the plurality of drivers inactive at any given time.