Multimode voltage regulator and method for providing a multimode voltage regulator output voltage and an output current to a load

A method for providing a multimode voltage regulator output voltage and an output current to a load, the method comprising

• providing said regulator output voltage by a reference voltage output of a low power reference voltage source when in a first low power mode an absolute value of said output current is not greater than a threshold value;
• providing said regulator output voltage by a buffer amplifier output of a buffer amplifier having a first bias voltage input being connected in a second low power mode to said reference voltage output when said absolute value of said output current is greater than said threshold value for less than a predefined time;
• automatically determining said absolute value of said output current;
• automatically switching from said first low power mode to said second low power mode;
• and
• providing said regulator output voltage by said buffer amplifier output of said buffer amplifier having a second bias voltage input being connected in a third normal mode to a bias voltage output of a bias voltage source when said absolute value of said output current is greater than said threshold value for at least said predefined time.

A method comprising:

• providing only an internal voltage of a low power reference voltage source when the low power reference voltage source is in an ultra low power mode;
• providing, by a reference voltage output of the low power reference voltage source, a regulator output voltage when the low power reference voltage source is in a first low power mode, and in response to an absolute value of an output current being less than a threshold value;
• providing, by a buffer amplifier output of a buffer amplifier having a first bias voltage input being connected to the reference voltage output when the low power reference voltage source is in a second low power mode, the regulator output voltage in response to the absolute value of the output current being greater than the threshold value for less than a predefined time;
• automatically determining the absolute value of said output current;
• automatically switching from the first low power mode to said second low power mode;
• and
• providing, by the buffer amplifier output of the buffer amplifier having a second bias voltage input being connected to a bias voltage output of a bias voltage source in a normal mode, the regulator output voltage in response to the absolute value of the output current being greater than the threshold value for at least said predefined time.