Circuit and method for reducing quiescent current in a switching regulator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A switching regulator circuit that:
- (1) provides a regulated voltage to an output terminal and (2) is capable of operating in a low quiescent current standby mode, the switching regulator circuit comprising;
an output circuit coupled to an input terminal and said output terminal that generates a feedback signal indicative of the regulated voltage, said output circuit including a first switching element;
a control circuit coupled to said output circuit that receives said feedback signal, said control circuit generating a first control signal in response to said feedback signal that controls a duty cycle of said first switching element; and
a filter circuit responsive to a second control signal that reduces a current-drawing load on said control circuit when the regulator is operating in the standby mode.
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Abstract
A switching mode voltage regulator circuit that operates at reduced quiescent current levels is provided. The voltage regulator preferably includes a control circuit and a switching element that connects and disconnects filter circuitry from the control circuit. An error amplifier in the control circuit is placed in a micropower operating state when the regulator is in standby mode to reduce quiescent current.
166 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A switching regulator circuit that:
(1) provides a regulated voltage to an output terminal and (2) is capable of operating in a low quiescent current standby mode, the switching regulator circuit comprising; an output circuit coupled to an input terminal and said output terminal that generates a feedback signal indicative of the regulated voltage, said output circuit including a first switching element; a control circuit coupled to said output circuit that receives said feedback signal, said control circuit generating a first control signal in response to said feedback signal that controls a duty cycle of said first switching element; and a filter circuit responsive to a second control signal that reduces a current-drawing load on said control circuit when the regulator is operating in the standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A switching regulator circuit that provides a regulated voltage to a load, said switching regulator circuit comprising:
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an output circuit coupled to an input terminal and to an output terminal that provides a feedback signal indicative of the regulated voltage, said output circuit including a first switching element; a control circuit coupled to said output circuit that receives said feedback signal, said control circuit providing a control signal to said output circuit that controls a duty cycle of said first switching element in response to said feedback signal; and a filter circuit coupled to said control circuit that includes a second switching element that connects and disconnects said filter circuit from said control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. In a switching voltage regulator that provides an output current at a regulated voltage, a method for reducing quiescent current in the voltage regulator, the method comprising:
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in response to a feedback signal, generating a first control signal that is indicative of the output current; comparing said first control signal with a threshold voltage and producing a second control signal in response to said comparison when said comparison indicates that the output current is below a predetermined value; and in response to said second control signal, placing said error amplifier in the micropower operating mode so that the quiescent current drawn by the voltage regulator is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification