Switching regulator

A switching regulator which generates a predetermined output voltage at an output terminal from a power supply voltage supplied to a first power supply terminal, the switching regulator comprising:

• an inductor connected to the output terminal at one end;
• a switching element connected between the first power supply terminal and another end of the inductor;
• an error amplification circuit configured to amplify a difference between a voltage based on the predetermined output voltage and a first reference voltage to output a first error voltage;
• a PFM comparison circuit configured to compare the first error voltage with a second reference voltage to output a comparison result signal at one of a first level and a second level;
• an oscillation circuit configured to output a clock signal of a predetermined frequency when the comparison result signal is at the first level, and to stop output of the clock signal when the comparison result signal is at the second level;
• a frequency characteristics separation circuit having an input node to which the first error voltage is provided, and an output node from which a second error voltage is supplied;
• a phase compensation circuit connected to the output node of the frequency characteristics separation circuit;
• and
• a PWM conversion circuit configured to turn the switching element on and off at a predetermined pulse width, based on the second error voltage and on the output from the oscillation circuit.