System and method for near zero light-load supply current in switching regulator

A system for operating a voltage regulator at a regulated voltage in a standby mode with a minimum current draw, the system comprising:

• a control unit operating the voltage regulator in at least a normal mode;
• a voltage reference generator unit having a reference output;
• an error circuit unit monitoring an output of the voltage regulator, said error circuit unit comprising an error signal output indicating a difference between said output and said reference output;
• an output control unit generating a first control signal at least in part based on said error signal output, said first control signal actively controlling said output of the voltage regulator;
• a control signal monitoring unit monitoring said first control signal over a first period of time, said control signal monitoring unit comprising a second control signal output that is active when said first control signal is inactive for said first period of time;
• and
• a standby control unit for placing the voltage regulator in the standby mode when said regulated signal output is active and said error signal indicates said output is substantially at the regulated voltage wherein portions of the voltage regulator including said voltage reference generator unit, said error circuit unit, said output control unit, and said control signal monitoring unit are disabled permitting the voltage regulator to operate at the minimum current draw.

A system for operating a voltage regulator at a regulated voltage, the system comprising:

• a control unit that operates the voltage regulator in at least a normal mode;
• an error circuit unit that monitors an output voltage of the voltage regulator and outputs an error signal indicative of a difference between the output voltage and the regulated voltage;
• an output control unit that generates a first control signal at least in part based on the error signal;
• a control signal monitoring unit that monitors the first control signal and activates a second control signal when the first control signal has remained inactive during a first period of time;
• and
• a standby control unit that operates the voltage regulator in a standby mode if both the second control signal is active and the error signal indicates that the output voltage is substantially at the regulated voltage, wherein portions of the voltage regulator including the error circuit unit, the output control unit, and the control signal monitoring unit are disabled in the standby mode permitting the voltage regulator to draw a minimum current.