Patents Represented by Attorney Lawrence E. Lycke

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  • Circuit to reduce dropout voltage in a low dropout voltage regulator using a dynamically controlled sat catcher
    Patent number: 5410241
    Abstract: An integrated circuit voltage regulator employs a PNP pass transistor to produce a low dropout voltage. Saturation in the pass transistor produces excessive substrate current which appears in the form of wasted current which lowers the regulator efficiency. A current conducted by the sat catcher circuit is employed to avoid pass transistor saturation. The sat catcher is controlled dynamically so the dropout voltage is minimized and the voltage regulator maintains good performance at high regulator output currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Cecil