Voltage Regulator

A voltage regulator comprising

• an output node providing an output voltage for a load;
• current sensing means for sensing an output current flowing at the output node;
• voltage providing means for providing a digital representation of the output voltage or of an input voltage to the voltage regulator;
• output power determination means comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) having a digitally controllable gain and connected to the current sensing means to receive a signal that depends on the output current and to generate a digital value based on the received signal and the ADC gain value,
• wherein the ADC receives the digital voltage representation from the voltage providing means and wherein the ADC gain value is controlled depending on the digital voltage representation;
• and
• wherein the output power determining means are adapted to determine the output power of the voltage regulator based on the digital value generated by the ADC. The voltage regulator of claim 6, wherein the ADC gain value is set inversely proportional to the digital voltage representation

A method to determine the output power of a voltage regulator, comprising sensing an output current flowing at an output node of the voltage regulator;

• providing a digital representation of a output voltage at the output node or of an input voltage to the voltage regulator;
• controlling a variable resistance circuit to generate a resistance value depending on the digital voltage representation;
• supplying to the variable resistance circuit a current that is proportional to the output current;
• and
• determining the output power of the voltage regulator based on a voltage dropping at the variable resistance circuit.

A method to determine the output power of a voltage regulator, comprising

• sensing an output current flowing at an output node of the voltage regulator;
• providing a digital representation of a output voltage at the output node or of an input voltage to the voltage regulator;
• controlling the gain of an analog to digital converter (ADC) depending on the digital voltage representation, the ADC connected to convert a signal that depends on the output current and generating a digital value based on the received analog value;
• and
• determining the output power of the voltage regulator based on the digital value generated by the ADC.