Output stage compensation circuit
First Claim
1. A low drop-out regulator having a compensation scheme for providing stable operation while providing output current to a downstream circuit device, said low drop-out regulator comprising:
- a pass device comprising a power transistor for driving a load current to the downstream device, said pass device having a control terminal;
an error amplifier for providing an output current configured for driving said control terminal of said pass device; and
an output stage compensation circuit comprising at least one segmented sense device configured to sense said output current.
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Abstract
An output stage compensation circuit and method for a low drop-out regulator configured to facilitate stable operation while providing output voltage and current to downstream circuit devices is provided. An exemplary low drop-out regulator is configured with an output stage compensation circuit including one or more segmented sense devices configured to drive one or more fixed current sources. Each segmented sense device is configured to compensate a suitable range of output current and to multiply the effect of associated compensation capacitors. The one or more segmented sense devices are configured to provide pole-zero compensation based on output current. Further, the current range of each segment can be overlapped. As a result, the stability of the low drop-out regulator is not dependent upon the output current requirements or the capacitance requirements of the downstream circuit.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A low drop-out regulator having a compensation scheme for providing stable operation while providing output current to a downstream circuit device, said low drop-out regulator comprising:
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a pass device comprising a power transistor for driving a load current to the downstream device, said pass device having a control terminal;
an error amplifier for providing an output current configured for driving said control terminal of said pass device; and
an output stage compensation circuit comprising at least one segmented sense device configured to sense said output current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A compensation circuit for compensation of an output stage, said compensation circuit comprising:
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at least one segmented sense device configured to provide pole-zero compensation, said at least one segmented sense device comprising a sense transistor having a control terminal configured for coupling to a control terminal of a pass device; and
at least one current source configured for supplying current to said at least one segmented sense device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for compensation of an output stage, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing an output current provided to a control terminal of a pass device with a first segmented sense device having a first compensation capacitor; and
compensating the output stage through said first compensation capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
sensing said output current provided to said control terminal of said pass device with a second segmented sense device having a second compensation capacitor, said second segmented sense device being configured to sense said output current at an increased current level, said second segmented sense device comprising a smaller transistor device than said first segmented sense device; and
compensating said output stage through said first compensation capacitor and said second compensation capacitor.
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24. The compensation method according to claim 23, wherein said step of sensing with said first segmented sense device comprises drawing current from a first current source.
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25. The compensation method according to claim 24, wherein said step of sensing with said second segmented sense device comprises drawing current from a second current source larger than said first current source.
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26. The compensation method according to claim 23, wherein said method further comprises the steps of sensing said output current with a plurality of additional segmented sense devices having a plurality of compensation capacitors, with each of said plurality of additional segmented sense devices being scaled in size, configured to sense multiple levels of output current, and being coupled to a one of a plurality of additional current sources.
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27. The compensation method according to claim 26, wherein said plurality of additional current sources is scaled in a manner inversely proportional to said plurality of additional segmented sense devices.
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28. The compensation method according to claim 26, wherein said plurality of additional segmented sense devices is configured to multiply compensation effects of said plurality of compensation capacitors.
Specification