Low consumption linear voltage regulator with high supply line rejection
First Claim
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1. A linear voltage regulator comprising:
- an input terminal adapted to recieve a supply voltage thereon;
an output terminal adapted to deliver a regulated output voltage;
a power transistor having a control terminal and having a main conduction path connected in a path between the input terminal and the output terminal;
an output current sensor for sensing an output current flowing along the path between the input terminal and the output terminal;
an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current, and having a first input terminal connected to a voltage reference, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of the power transistor; and
a bias current generator cooperating with said output current sensor for generating the bias current of the differential stage to vary proportionally with a value of the output current flowing in the path between the input terminal and the output terminal.
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Abstract
A linear type of voltage regulator, having an input terminal adapted to receive a supply voltage thereon, and an output terminal adapted to deliver a regulated output voltage, includes a power transistor and a driving circuit therefor. The driving circuit includes an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current which varies proportionally with the output current of the regulator.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A linear voltage regulator comprising:
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an input terminal adapted to recieve a supply voltage thereon; an output terminal adapted to deliver a regulated output voltage; a power transistor having a control terminal and having a main conduction path connected in a path between the input terminal and the output terminal; an output current sensor for sensing an output current flowing along the path between the input terminal and the output terminal; an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current, and having a first input terminal connected to a voltage reference, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of the power transistor; and a bias current generator cooperating with said output current sensor for generating the bias current of the differential stage to vary proportionally with a value of the output current flowing in the path between the input terminal and the output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A linear voltage regulator comprising:
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an input terminal adapted to receive a supply voltage thereon; an output terminal adapted to deliver a regulated output voltage; a power transistor having a control terminal and having a main conduction path connected in a path between the input terminal and the output terminal; a sensing resistor connected in series with the main conduction path of the power transistor for sensing an output current flowing along the path between the input terminal and the output terminal; an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current, and having a first input terminal connected to a voltage reference, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of the power transistor; and a transconductance operational amplifier having first and second inputs connected to first and second terminals, respectively, of said sensing resistor to measure a difference potential thereacross, and having an output terminal delivering an output current to bias the differential input stage of said operational amplifier based upon the difference potential. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A linear voltage regulator comprising:
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a power transistor having a control terminal and defining a main conduction path; an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current, and having a first input terminal connected to a voltage reference, and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of the power transistor; and a bias current generator for generating the bias current of the differential stage to vary proportionally with a value of the output current flowing in the main conduction path. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for linear voltage regulation comprising the steps of:
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providing a power transistor having a control terminal and defining a main conduction path; providing an operational amplifier having a differential input stage biased by a bias current, and having a first input terminal connected to a voltage reference, and an output terminal coupled to the control terminal of the power transistor; and generating the bias current for the differential stage to vary proportionally with a value of the output current flowing in the main conduction path. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification