Switching regulator circuits and methods

A method of generating a regulated voltage comprising:

• generating an output voltage using a first switching regulator stage configured between an input voltage and a first reference voltage when the output voltage is configured above the first reference voltage, the first switching regulator stage comprising
• a first switch having a first terminal coupled to the input voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first switching node, and
• a second switch having a first terminal coupled to the first switching node and a second terminal coupled to a first reference voltage;
• and
• generating the output voltage using a second switching regulator stage configured between the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage when the output voltage is configured below the first reference voltage, the second switching regulator stage comprising
• a third switch having a first terminal coupled to the first reference voltage and a second terminal coupled to a second switching node;
• and
• a fourth switch having a first terminal coupled to the second switching node and a second terminal coupled to the second reference voltage.

A switching regulator circuit comprising:

• an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal;
• first switching regulator means for producing an output voltage on the second terminal of the inductor when the output voltage is configured above the first reference voltage, wherein the first switching regulator means is configured between an input voltage and a first reference voltage, the first switching regulator means comprising
• a first switch having a first terminal coupled to the input voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first switching node, and
• a second switch having a first terminal coupled to the first switching node and a second terminal coupled to a first reference voltage;
• and
• second switching regulator means for producing the output voltage on the second terminal of the inductor when the output voltage is configured below the first reference voltage, wherein the second switching regulator means is configured between the first reference voltage and a second reference voltage, the second switching regulator stage comprising
• a third switch having a first terminal coupled to the first reference voltage and a second terminal coupled to a second switching node;
• and
• a fourth switch having a first terminal coupled to the second switching node and a second terminal coupled to the second reference voltage.