Voltage regulator with bypass mode
First Claim
1. A step down voltage regulator comprising devices designed to operate at a maximum device voltage lower than a supply voltage, comprising:
- an output regulation device coupled to the supply voltage and an output;
an output device protection circuit responsive to the supply voltage and the output to ensure that the maximum device voltage of the output regulation device is not exceeded; and
a bypass circuit having a bypass output device and being coupled to the supply voltage, the bypass circuit including protection circuitry enabled when the supply is at said maximum device voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A step down voltage regulator with bypass comprised of devices designed to operate over a maximum rated voltage lower than a supply voltage. The regulator includes an output regulation device coupled to the supply voltage and an output. An output device protection circuit is provided which is responsive to the supply voltage and the output to ensure that the maximum rated voltage of the output regulation device is not exceeded. A bypass circuit having a bypass output device and being coupled to the supply voltage is provided with a protection circuit. The output regulation devices comprise p-channel transistors, and may have an operating maximum rated voltage in a range of 2.7-3.6 volts with the supply voltage is in a range of 4.4-5.25 volts, or 2.9-3.5 volts.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A step down voltage regulator comprising devices designed to operate at a maximum device voltage lower than a supply voltage, comprising:
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an output regulation device coupled to the supply voltage and an output;
an output device protection circuit responsive to the supply voltage and the output to ensure that the maximum device voltage of the output regulation device is not exceeded; and
a bypass circuit having a bypass output device and being coupled to the supply voltage, the bypass circuit including protection circuitry enabled when the supply is at said maximum device voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A voltage regulator supplying an output voltage lower than a supply voltage, comprising:
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a first output device and a second output device, each designed to operate at a maximum rated voltage lower than the supply voltage;
protection circuitry coupled to the first output device and the second output device regulating a gate voltage of the first and second output devices relative to a drain load and a source voltage on the output devices so as to not exceed the maximum rated voltage;
a voltage detector coupled to the supply voltage and at least the second output device, enabling the second output device when the supply voltage is at a voltage less than a maximum operating voltage for the first and second output devices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A memory system including a control path and a data path to a host device, and receiving a supply voltage from the host device, comprising:
a voltage regulator including a voltage input coupled to the supply voltage;
an output device having a maximum device operating voltage less than a maximum possible supply voltage and coupled to a regulator output;
a bypass device having a maximum device operating voltage less than a maximum possible supply voltage and coupled to a regulator output;
a protection circuit coupled to the voltage input, the bypass device and the output device, the protection circuit comprising a plurality of output control devices operating at maximum rated voltages less than the voltage provided by the host at the input; and
a voltage detector coupled to the supply voltage outputting a signal indicating whether a level of the supply voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A peripheral device for a host system including a voltage regulator circuit, comprising:
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a functional component;
a voltage regulator having an output regulation device and a bypass device coupled to the supply voltage and an output supply voltage input and an output;
an output device protection circuit responsive to the supply voltage and the output to ensure that the maximum rated voltage of the output regulation device is not exceeded; and
a bypass circuit having including protection circuitry enabled when the supply is at said maximum rated voltage. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A memory system, comprising:
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a controller;
a memory array; and
a voltage regulator including a plurality of devices operating at maximum rated voltages less than a supply voltage and having an output regulation device coupled to the supply voltage and an output;
an output device protection circuit responsive to the supply voltage and the output to ensure that the maximum rated voltage of the output regulation device is not exceeded; and
a bypass circuit having a bypass output device and being coupled to the supply voltage, the bypass circuit including protection circuitry enabled when the supply is at said maximum rated voltage.
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35. A peripheral device, comprising:
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a universal serial bus interface;
a memory array having an input operating voltage; and
a voltage regulator including an output regulation device coupled to the supply voltage and the memory array, the voltage regulator including an output device protection circuit responsive to the supply voltage to ensure that a maximum operating voltage of the output regulation device is not exceeded; and
a bypass circuit having a bypass output device coupled to the memory array, the circuit being coupled to the supply voltage, the bypass circuit including protection circuitry enabled when the supply is at said maximum voltage.
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Specification