Patent · US Expired

Voltage regulator with low drop out voltage

US5675241A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 1996
Grant dateOct 7, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 27, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05F3/247
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A circuit and method for providing a low drop out voltage regulator. A source follower circuit is provided having a transistor (MD1) with an output terminal for driving a load at its source terminal and a voltage supply coupled to the drain terminal. At least one diode (D1) is coupled between the gate terminal and a ground reference to provide a predetermined voltage at the gate of the transistor (MD1). A voltage multiplier circuit is provided having an input (IN) for receiving an oscillating input voltage and a charge storage device (39) coupled between the oscillating input and a voltage reference (Vref), and being further coupled in series with the voltage reference and then to the gate terminal of the transistor (MD1). The oscillating input voltage is used to charge the charge storage device (39) to a voltage approximately equal to the voltage reference. When the supply voltage falls below the normal level, the series combination of the voltage reference and the charge storage device provides a multiplied voltage at the gate of the transistor, for example a voltage of twice the reference voltage. This high gate voltage keeps the output at the source of the transistor at a high …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.