Voltage Regulator Feedback Control for Adjustment Port Ground Faults

The patent introduces a ground fault protection circuit as an intermediary component between the voltage adjustment port and the output port. This protection circuit includes a detection unit that monitors the voltage adjustment port and a control unit that adjusts the feedback voltage based on detection results. When a ground fault is detected at the voltage adjustment port, the control unit increases the feedback voltage to the first reference voltage, which prevents excessive voltage from occurring at the output port. This intermediary protection mechanism resolves the contradiction by adding a mediating layer that maintains reliability without eliminating the voltage adjustment functionality.

The ground fault protection circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects ground faults at the voltage adjustment port, controls the feedback voltage based on detection results, and prevents excessive voltage at the output port. By integrating these multiple functions into a single protection circuit module, the patent achieves enhanced reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity. The circuit works in conjunction with the existing error amplifier circuit and output transistor, leveraging existing components to minimize additional complexity while maximizing protective capability.