Feedback path for fast response to transients in voltage regulators
AssigneeCirrus Logic, Inc.
InventorShatam Agarwal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A feedback path may be provided within the voltage regulator to reduce the effect of a current step or load transient on the output of a voltage regulator. The feedback path may provide a fast path for stabilizing the voltage regulator after the load transient. The feedback path may be configurable to be activated or de-activated during operation of the voltage regulator. The feedback path may be activated when the voltage regulator takes over generation of an output voltage from another voltage regulator. The feedback path may then be de-activated to allow normal operation of the voltage regulator after a steady-state condition is reached.
Claims21
An apparatus, comprising:
- a voltage regulator, comprising:
- a transistor comprising a gate, a source, and a drain;
- an amplifier comprising an input node and an output node, wherein the output node is coupled to the gate of the transistor;
- and
- a first feedback path coupling one of the source and the drain of the transistor to the gate of the transistor,
- wherein the first feedback path is configured to activate and de-activate, wherein the first feedback path is configured to activate after a load transient on the voltage regulator, and wherein the first feedback path is configured to de-activate during steady-state operation of voltage regulator.
A method, comprising:
- detecting a load transient on a voltage regulator having a transistor;
- activating, after detecting the load transient, a feedback path between one of a drain and a source of the transistor and a gate of the transistor;
- and
- de-activating the feedback path after a duration of time after the load transient such that the feedback path is not active during steady-state operation of the voltage regulator.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a voltage regulator comprising:
- a transistor;
- and
- a feedback path between one of a drain and a source of a transistor and a gate of the transistor;
- and
- a controller coupled to the voltage regulator, wherein the controller is configured to execute the steps of:
- detecting a load transient on the voltage regulator;
- activating, after detecting the load transient, the feedback path;
- and
- de-activating the feedback path after a duration of time after the load transient such that the feedback path is not active during steady state operation of the voltage regulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.