Linear Regulator Bias Circuit Reusing Leakage Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear regulators face challenges in providing stable and efficient voltage regulation due to quiescent current components like leakage current and bias current, leading to increased power consumption and noise, especially across varying temperatures and loads.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state circuit design that incorporates a leakage current compensation circuit to reuse leakage current as bias current for the control circuit, improving dynamic response, noise immunity, and reducing power consumption by integrating the compensation circuit with the bias current source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If leakage current compensation circuit is integrated with bias current source to reuse leakage current as bias current, then power consumption is reduced and dynamic response is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leakage current compensation circuit is integrated with the bias current source circuit to form a unified circuit structure. The bias current source is configured to provide a first bias current to the error amplifier and simultaneously provide a second bias current to the leakage current compensation circuit, which then provides a third bias current back to the error amplifier. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate circuits and components, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining improved dynamic response.
Solution Approach 2:
The leakage current that would normally be wasted or require separate compensation is converted into a useful resource. The leakage current compensation circuit utilizes the leakage current from the pass transistor and converts it into a third bias current that is fed back to the error amplifier. This transforms the harmful leakage current into a beneficial contribution to the bias current, reducing the overall power consumption of the regulator while improving dynamic response.
2Reliability
If bias current is increased to improve dynamic response and noise immunity, then noise immunity and dynamic response improve, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leakage current compensation circuit implements a feedback mechanism where the leakage current is captured, processed, and fed back as a third bias current to the error amplifier. This feedback loop ensures that the bias current is dynamically adjusted based on the actual leakage conditions, providing improved noise immunity and dynamic response while avoiding the need for a continuously high bias current that would increase power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit utilizes its own leakage current to contribute to its own bias current requirements. The leakage current compensation circuit captures the leakage current from the pass transistor and uses it to generate the third bias current that feeds back to the error amplifier. This self-service approach allows the circuit to improve its own noise immunity and dynamic response without requiring additional external power or bias current sources.
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state circuit is presented which may comprise a pass device, a control circuit, and a leakage current compensation circuit. The pass device may have a first terminal, a second terminal and a drive terminal, wherein the first terminal of the pass device is coupled with an input terminal of the solid-state circuit, and wherein the second terminal of the pass device is coupled with an output terminal of the solid-state circuit. The control circuit may be coupled with the drive terminal of the pass device and may be configured to drive the pass device with a driving voltage. The leakage current compensation circuit may be configured to receive a leakage current of the pass device and may be configured to forward said leakage current as a bias current to said control circuit.