Flip Voltage Follower Linear Regulator With Temperature Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear regulators face challenges in achieving low static power consumption and miniaturization for intra-chip power management in mobile devices, particularly in standby states, and the sampling resistor network occupies significant chip area.
Innovation Solution
A linear regulator design incorporating a current bias module, a voltage bias module with positive temperature characteristics, and a flip voltage follower, which compensates for negative temperature characteristics without a reference voltage module, utilizing a series self-cascode MOSFET circuit and a folded cascode amplifier to stabilize output voltage and reduce chip area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional linear regulator with reference voltage module and sampling resistor network is used, then the output voltage can be stabilized, but the chip area occupied is large and static power consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reference voltage module and sampling resistor network from the traditional linear regulator structure, extracting only the essential voltage regulation function through the flip voltage follower and bias modules, thereby significantly reducing chip area while maintaining output stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the voltage regulation and temperature compensation functions into integrated bias modules (current bias module and voltage bias module with positive temperature characteristics) that work together with the flip voltage follower, eliminating the need for separate reference voltage modules and sampling networks
2Reliability
If a traditional linear regulator with reference voltage module is used, then the output voltage can be stabilized, but the static power consumption is high in standby state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reference voltage module which consumes static power, and instead uses the flip voltage follower with bias modules that can operate with minimal current consumption in standby state, achieving both voltage stability and low power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the linear regulator to operate in different modes (active and standby) by controlling the bias modules, allowing periodic adjustment of power consumption levels while maintaining voltage regulation capability when needed
3Device complexity
If the flip voltage follower is used without temperature compensation, then the circuit is simple, but the output voltage has negative temperature characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voltage bias module with positive temperature characteristics that changes its output voltage in response to temperature variations, compensating for the negative temperature drift of the flip voltage follower and achieving temperature-stable output voltage
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage bias module acts as an intermediary between the power supply and the flip voltage follower, providing temperature-compensated bias voltage that adjusts the operating point of the follower to maintain stable output across temperature ranges
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to the field of electronics and discloses a linear regulator. In the present disclosure, the linear regulator includes: a current bias module, a voltage bias module having positive temperature characteristics, and a flip voltage follower, where an input end of the current bias module receives an input voltage of the linear regulator, and an output end of the current bias module outputs a bias current; a first input end and a second input end of the voltage bias module receive the input voltage and the bias current respectively, and an output end of the voltage bias module outputs a bias voltage; and a first input end and a second input end of the flip voltage follower receive the input voltage and the bias voltage respectively, and an output end of the flip voltage follower outputs an output voltage of the linear regulator. The linear regulator in the present disclosure compensates negative temperature characteristics of the flip voltage follower by using the voltage bias module having the positive temperature characteristics. With no need for a reference voltage module, the output voltage also has good temperature characteristics, relatively low static power consumption, and a relatively small area on a chip.