Voltage Regulator Parallel-Path Circuit for Low Non-Regulation Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low dropout regulators (LDOs) experience significant increases in current consumption during non-regulation states, which can be tens, hundreds, or thousands of times higher than in regulation states, and existing solutions to mitigate this issue are complex and large in circuit scale.
Innovation Solution
A voltage regulator with a simple circuit configuration that includes a common source amplifier circuit, an error amplifier circuit, and a non-regulation state detection circuit, utilizing parallel paths that can be switched between conductive and open states to manage current flow based on the regulation state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a minimum dropout voltage circuit is used to prevent non-regulation state, then current consumption is suppressed, but circuit scale becomes huge and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the circuit configuration adaptive to operating conditions. The common source amplifier circuit dynamically switches between different parallel paths (first path for non-regulation state, second path for regulation state) based on the detected operating state, allowing the circuit to optimize its structure for each condition rather than maintaining a fixed complex configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the current control circuit into multiple parallel paths within the common source amplifier circuit. Each path is designed to operate optimally in specific conditions (first path for non-regulation, second path for regulation), allowing the circuit to suppress current consumption in non-regulation state while maintaining simplicity through modular path selection rather than a monolithic complex circuit.
2Reliability
If the power supply voltage is lower than the reference voltage (non-regulation state), then the voltage regulator cannot maintain output voltage, but current consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback through the non-regulation state detection circuit that continuously monitors the relationship between power supply voltage and reference voltage. This detection signal feeds back to the common source amplifier circuit, enabling it to automatically adjust its operation mode (switching between parallel paths) based on the actual regulation state, thus responding appropriately to voltage conditions while managing current consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the common source amplifier circuit based on the detection signal. In non-regulation state, it switches to the first path with parameters optimized for low current consumption, while in regulation state, it switches to the second path with parameters optimized for voltage control, thereby adapting circuit parameters to operating conditions to balance reliability and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a voltage regulator capable of suppressing a current consumption in a non-regulation state with a simple circuit configuration. The voltage regulator includes an output transistor supplying an output voltage based on a control voltage, an error amplifier circuit supplying an amplified signal obtained by amplifying a difference between a voltage based on the output voltage and a reference voltage, a common source amplifier circuit supplying the control voltage to the output transistor based on the amplified signal, and a non-regulation state detection circuit supplying a detection signal to the common source amplifier circuit. The common source amplifier circuit includes a current control circuit including a plurality of parallel paths connecting between a control terminal of the output transistor and a power supply terminal, the plurality of parallel paths including a path to be closed in the non-regulation state and a path to be opened in the non-regulation state.