Cascode structure for linear regulators and clamps
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsAlejandro VERA, Shyamsunder BALASUBRAMANIAN, Toshio YAMANAKA, Toru TANAKA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage regulator includes an output transistor, an error amplifier coupled to the output transistor, a cascode transistor coupled to the output transistor in series, and a cascode bias circuit coupled to the cascode transistor and the output transistor. The output transistor is configured to generate an output signal at a first voltage. The error amplifier is configured to receive a reference signal. The cascode bias circuit is configured to bias the cascode transistor such that, in response to a drain-to-source short circuit of the output transistor, the cascode transistor generates the output signal at the first voltage.
Claims20
A voltage regulator, comprising:
- an output transistor configured to generate an output signal at a first voltage;
- an error amplifier coupled to the output transistor and configured to receive a reference signal;
- a cascode transistor coupled to the output transistor in series;
- and
- a cascode bias circuit coupled to the cascode transistor and the output transistor, the bias circuit configured to bias the cascode transistor such that, in response to a drain-to-source short circuit of the output transistor, the cascode transistor generates the output signal at the first voltage.
A method of regulating voltage comprising:
- receiving, by a cascode transistor of a voltage regulator, a power supply voltage from a power supply at a first voltage;
- biasing an output transistor that is connected in series with the cascode transistor such that, in response to a drain-to-source short circuit of the cascode transistor, the output transistor generates an output signal at a second voltage;
- and
- biasing the cascode transistor such that, in response to a drain-to-source short circuit of the output transistor, the cascode transistor generates the output signal at the second voltage.
A control system, comprising:
- a microcontroller (MCU) configured to implement state changes for the control system;
- a power supply unit (PSU) configured to generate a power supply at a first voltage;
- and
- a voltage regulator configured to receive the power supply from the PSU and generate a MCU power supply at a second voltage to power the MCU, the voltage regulator comprising:
- a cascode transistor coupled to an output transistor in series;
- and
- a bias circuit configured to bias the cascode transistor such that, in response to a drain-to-source short circuit of the output transistor, the cascode transistor generates the MCU power supply at the second voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.