NMOS-based voltage regulator
AssigneeNXP B.V.
InventorGe Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example discloses a voltage regulator, comprising: a power supply input; a regulated voltage output; an output transistor configured to provide a first current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on a control voltage; and a current amplifier configured to provide a second current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on the control voltage; wherein the output transistor and the current amplifier are coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output.
Claims14
A voltage regulator, comprising:
- a power supply input;
- a regulated voltage output;
- an output transistor configured to provide a first current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on a control voltage;
- and
- a current amplifier configured to provide a second current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on the control voltage;
- wherein the output transistor and the current amplifier are coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output;
- wherein the current amplifier includes,
- an amplifier control circuit, configured to supply a first portion of the second current;
- and
- an amplified current circuit, configured to supply a second portion of the second current;
- wherein the amplifier control circuit and the amplified current circuit are coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output;
- and
- wherein the amplifier control circuit is configured to sense both the control voltage sent to the output transistor and only the first portion of the second current, and in response command the amplified current circuit to supply the second portion of the second current to the regulated voltage output.
A method for voltage regulation in a device having a power supply input, a regulated voltage output, and an output transistor and a current amplifier coupled in parallel to the power supply input and the regulated voltage output, wherein the current amplifier includes an amplifier control circuit and an amplified current circuit coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output, comprising:
- providing a first current from the output transistor to the regulated voltage output based on a control voltage;
- and
- providing a second current from the current amplifier to the regulated voltage output based on the control voltage
- providing a first portion of the second current from the amplifier control circuit;
- providing a second portion of the second current from the amplified current circuit;
- sensing both the control voltage sent to the output transistor and only the first portion of the second current;
- and
- commanding the amplified current circuit to supply the second portion of the second current to the regulated voltage output based on the sensing.
A voltage regulator, comprising:
- a power supply input;
- a regulated voltage output;
- an output transistor configured to provide a first current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on a control voltage;
- and
- a current amplifier configured to provide a second current from the power supply input to the regulated voltage output based on the control voltage;
- wherein the output transistor and the current amplifier are coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output;
- wherein the current amplifier includes an amplifier control circuit and an amplified current circuit, each coupled in parallel between the power supply input and the regulated voltage output;
- wherein the amplifier control circuit is configured to sense the control voltage sent to the output transistor and in response directly supply a first portion of the second current and command the amplified current circuit to supply a second portion of the second current;
- wherein the amplifier control circuit includes a first PMOS device coupled in series with an NMOS device;
- wherein the amplified current circuit includes a second PMOS device;
- and
- wherein the first PMOS device and the second PMOS device are configured as a current mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.