CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR REGULATING VOLTAGE
First Claim
1. A method for regulating a voltage, comprising:
- activating a first regulator, wherein the first regulator provides an output current;
activating a second regulator and deactivating the first regulator when the output current increases to a first predetermined level; and
reactivating the first regulator and deactivating the second regulator when the output current decreases to a second predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid regulator circuit and a method for regulating an output voltage. The hybrid regulator circuit includes a switching regulator, a linear regulator, a selector circuit, and an output capacitor which is shared by the switching regulator and the linear regulator. The selector circuit activates the linear regulator to provide a light load current. When the load current increases to a first predetermined level, the selector circuit activates the switching regulator and the linear regulator remains activated until the switching regulator ramps up to provide a sufficient amount of current so that the regulated output voltage does not droop or sag below a desired level. The selector circuit then deactivates the linear regulator. When the load current decreases to another predetermined level, the selector circuit reactivates the linear regulator and deactivates the switching regulator.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for regulating a voltage, comprising:
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activating a first regulator, wherein the first regulator provides an output current; activating a second regulator and deactivating the first regulator when the output current increases to a first predetermined level; and reactivating the first regulator and deactivating the second regulator when the output current decreases to a second predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for improving load transient response in a regulated output voltage, comprising:
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enabling a first regulator to provide a first current level; enabling a second regulator in response to a load current increasing to a second current level, wherein the first and second regulators cooperate to provide a summed output current; and disabling the first regulator when the output voltage has stabilized to within a tolerance of a predetermined output voltage level, and wherein the second regulator provides the load current. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A circuit having a circuit output, comprising:
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a selector circuit having first and second current sensing inputs and a voltage sensing input; a first regulator having a regulation output and a current sensing output, the current sensing output coupled to the first current sensing input of the selector circuit; and a second regulator having a regulation output and a current sensing output, the current sensing output coupled to the second current sensing input of the selector circuit, and wherein the regulation outputs of the first and second regulators are coupled together. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification