Switch-type voltage regulator with reduction of occupied space for soft-start functions

A voltage regulator circuit, comprising:

• a converter circuit having a first input coupled to an input node, a second input, and an output coupled to an output node;
• a comparison voltage generator having an output;
• a differential-type comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the comparison voltage generator, a second input, and an output coupled to the second input of the converter circuit;
• and
• an error amplification circuit having an input coupled to the output node to receive a feedback voltage, and an output coupled to the second input of the differential-type comparator, the error amplification circuit further comprising a comparison circuit having a first input coupled to the error amplification circuit input, a second input coupled to a first reference voltage, and an output coupled to the error amplification circuit output, and a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to the error amplification circuit input, a second input coupled to a second reference voltage, and an output coupled to the error amplification circuit output, the error amplification circuit further coupled to a compensation circuit input terminal that in turn is coupled to the input node and to the output node, the error amplification circuit configured to supply an error voltage at its output that is correlated to the difference between the first reference voltage and the feedback voltage.

A switch-type regulator, comprising an output terminal supplying an output voltage;

• error amplifier means;
• a compensation network;
• and soft-start means;
• said error amplifier means comprising a different amplifier means and having a first input receiving a reference voltage, a second input receiving a feedback voltage correlated to said output voltage, and an output connected to a compensation terminal, said error amplifier means supplying an error voltage correlated to the difference between said reference voltage and feedback voltage;
• said compensation network being connected to said compensation terminal and comprising a capacitor and said soft-start means includes said compensation network, with said capacitor performing a soft-start capacitor function during a first operational state and a compensation-capacitor function during a second operational state.