Ultra-low-power mode for a voltage regulator

A controller for controlling a switching voltage regulator having a switching circuit configured to receive an input voltage, and to alternately couple and de-couple the input voltage to an output filter, thereby producing a regulated output voltage at the output filter, the controller comprising:

• an output monitor to measure the output voltage of the voltage regulator, and to assert a refresh signal when the output voltage deviates from a predetermined voltage range, thereby causing the switching circuit to couple the output filter to the input voltage in response to the refresh signal, thereby returning the output voltage to within the predetermined voltage range;
• a timer to periodically assert a check signal;
• and
• a logic module to deactivate the output monitor when the check signal is not asserted, and to activate the output monitor when the check signal is asserted.

A controller for controlling a switching voltage regulator having a switching circuit configured to receive an input voltage, and to alternately couple and de-couple the input voltage to an output filter in response to a refresh signal generated by an output monitor, thereby producing a regulated output voltage at the output filter, the controller comprising:

• in the output monitor, means for measuring the output voltage of the voltage regulator, and asserting the refresh signal when the output voltage deviates from a predetermined voltage range, thereby causing the switching circuit to couple the output filter to the input voltage in response to the refresh signal, thereby returning the output voltage to within the predetermined voltage range;
• means for periodically asserting a check signal;
• and
• means for deactivating the output monitor when the check signal is not asserted, and activating the output monitor when the check signal is asserted.

Computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method for controlling a switching voltage regulator having a switching circuit configured to receive an input voltage, and to alternately couple and de-couple the input voltage to an output filter in response to a refresh signal generated by an output monitor, thereby producing a regulated output voltage at the output filter, the method comprising:

• in the output monitor, measuring the output voltage of the voltage regulator, and asserting the refresh signal when the output voltage deviates from a predetermined voltage range, thereby causing the switching circuit to couple the output filter to the input voltage in response to the refresh signal, thereby returning the output voltage to within the predetermined voltage range;
• periodically asserting a check signal;
• and
• deactivating the output monitor when the check signal is not asserted, and activating the output monitor When the check signal is asserted.

A method for controlling a switching voltage regulator having a switching circuit configured to receive an input voltage, and to alternately couple and de-couple the input voltage to an output filter in response to a refresh signal generated by an output monitor, thereby producing a regulated output voltage at the output filter, the method comprising:

• in the output monitor, measuring the output voltage of the voltage regulator, and asserting the refresh signal when the output voltage deviates from a predetermined voltage range, thereby causing the switching circuit to couple the output filter to the input voltage in response to the refresh signal, thereby returning the output voltage to within the predetermined voltage range;
• periodically asserting a check signal;
• and
• deactivating the output monitor when the check signal is not asserted, and activating the output monitor when the check signal is asserted.