Low-power voltage regulator with fast transient response
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsXiaopeng ZHONG, Masoud ROHAM
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In certain aspects, a voltage regulator includes a pass device coupled between an input of the voltage regulator and an output of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator also includes an amplifying circuit having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein the first input is configured to receive a reference voltage, the second input is coupled to the output of the voltage regulator via a feedback path, and the output of the amplifying circuit is coupled to a gate of the pass device. The voltage regulator further includes a first current source coupled between a supply rail and the amplifying circuit, and a capacitor coupled between the first current source and the output of the voltage regulator.
Claims30
A voltage regulator, comprising:
- a pass device coupled between an input of the voltage regulator and an output of the voltage regulator;
- an amplifying circuit having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein the first input is configured to receive a reference voltage, the second input is coupled to the output of the voltage regulator via a feedback path, and the output of the amplifying circuit is coupled to a gate of the pass device;
- a first current source coupled between a supply rail and the amplifying circuit;
- and
- a capacitor coupled between the first current source and the output of the voltage regulator.
A method of operating a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator includes a pass device coupled between an input of the voltage regulator and an output of the voltage regulator, and an amplifying circuit coupled to a gate of the pass device, the method comprising:
- detecting a transient voltage drop at the output of the voltage regulator via a capacitor;
- and
- increasing a bias current to the amplifying circuit based on the detected transient voltage drop.
A chip, comprising:
- a pad;
- a supply rail coupled to the pad;
- a reference circuit configured to generate a reference voltage;
- and
- a voltage regulator comprising:
- a pass device coupled between an input of the voltage regulator and an output of the voltage regulator, wherein the input of the voltage regulator is coupled to the supply rail;
- an amplifying circuit having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein the first input is coupled to the reference circuit, the second input is coupled to the output of the voltage regulator via a feedback path, and the output of the amplifying circuit is coupled to a gate of the pass device;
- a first current source coupled between the supply rail and the amplifying circuit;
- and
- a capacitor coupled between the first current source and the output of the voltage regulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.