Regulator over-voltage protection circuit with reduced standby current

A power converter comprising:

• an error amplifier including a compensation capacitor;
• a first switch coupled in series with the compensation capacitor;
• a current-sensing circuit configured to produce a signal to disable conductivity of the first switch upon detection of an internal current level greater than a threshold level;
• and
• a second switch coupled in parallel with the compensation capacitor, wherein the current-sensing circuit is configured to enable conductivity of the second switch upon detection of the current level greater than the threshold level, wherein the second switch is configured to discharge the compensation capacitor upon the detection of the current level greater than the threshold level.

A method of controlling a power converter, the method comprising:

• sensing an output voltage of the power converter with an error amplifier, formed with a compensation capacitor, sensing an internal current level of the power converter;
• disabling conductivity of a first switch coupled in series with the compensation capacitor, upon the sensing of the internal current level greater than a threshold level;
• and
• controlling an output current of the power converter upon detection of the internal current level greater than the threshold level.

A method of controlling a power converter, the method comprising:

• sensing an output voltage of the power converter with an error amplifier, formed with a compensation capacitor, sensing an internal current level of the power converter;
• disabling conductivity of a first switch coupled in series with the compensation capacitor, upon the sensing of the internal current level greater than a threshold level;
• and
• enabling conductivity of a second switch coupled in parallel with the compensation capacitor, upon the sensing of the internal current level greater than the threshold level, wherein the compensation capacitor discharges through the second switch when the conductivity of the second switch is enabled.

A power converter comprising:

• a regulator coupled to a bias voltage source and configured to produce a regulated output voltage on an output voltage terminal;
• an error amplifier with a first input coupled to the output voltage terminal;
• a compensation capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal coupled to a first reference supply;
• a first switch coupled in series with the compensation capacitor between the first terminal and the error amplifier;
• a second switch having a conduction path that couples the first terminal to the second terminal;
• and
• a current-sensing circuit coupled to a control input of the regulator, to a control terminal of the first switch, and to a control terminal of the second switch, wherein the current-sensing circuit is configured to sense a current level in the regulator and to produce control signals for the regulator, the first switch, and the second switch based on the current level.