Abstract: Driver circuits to invert an input signal and to generate an output signal based on the inverted input signal are presented. The voltage level of the logical high value of the output signal is adjustable. The driver circuit has a high side switching element coupled between a supply terminal and the output terminal of the driver circuit. The driver circuit has a low side switching element coupled between the output terminal of the driver circuit and a reference potential. The driver circuit has a regulation transistor, wherein a controlled section of the regulation transistor is coupled in series with the high side switching element and the low side switching element between the supply terminal and the reference potential. The driver circuit has a feedback circuit to regulate the output voltage by generating a regulation voltage at a control terminal of the regulation transistor.

Abstract: A DC/DC power converter and a method to convert an input voltage into an output voltage are presented. The power converter may have a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, an inductor, and switching elements. It may control the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a first magnetizing current path from the input node, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node. The converter may control the switching elements to interrupt said first magnetizing current path after a pre-determined time interval. The converter may control the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a demagnetizing current path from a reference potential via the inductor to the output node. The converter may control the switching elements such that said demagnetizing current path is interrupted when a current through the inductor reaches a pre-determined threshold current value.

Abstract: A DC/DC power converter and a method to convert an input voltage into an output voltage are presented. The power converter may have a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, an inductor, and switching elements. It may control the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a first magnetizing current path from the input node, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node. The converter may control the switching elements to interrupt said first magnetizing current path after a pre-determined time interval. The converter may control the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a demagnetizing current path from a reference potential via the inductor to the output node. The converter may control the switching elements such that said demagnetizing current path is interrupted when a current through the inductor reaches a pre-determined threshold current value.

Abstract: A digital voltage regulator and a method to regulate an output voltage at an output node based on an input voltage is presented. The regulator has a driver stage with N driver slices, with N>1. Each of the N driver slices can be activated or deactivated individually. A driver slice comprises a current source to provide an output current component to the output node, if the driver slice is activated. Furthermore, the regulator has a control unit to activate a number n of the N driver slices, based on a deviation of a feedback voltage from a reference voltage, where the feedback voltage is dependent on the output voltage.

Abstract: A circuit for generating an output voltage, and regulating the output voltage to a target voltage, is described. The circuit comprises a pass device coupled between an input voltage level and an output voltage level, an error amplifier stage configured to generate a first control voltage on the basis of a reference voltage and the output voltage, a buffer stage configured to generate a drive signal for the pass device on the basis of the first control voltage, and a tracking circuit configured to track a voltage across the pass device and to generate a second control voltage on the basis of the voltage across the pass device. The buffer stage comprises a variable resistance element, for limiting a current flowing through the buffer stage on the basis of the second control voltage.

Abstract: A voltage regulator to provide a load current at an output node is presented. The voltage regulator has a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node from an input node. The voltage regulator contains a driver stage to set a gate voltage at a gate of the pass transistor based on a drive voltage at a gate of a drive transistor. The voltage regulator has voltage regulation means to set the drive voltage in dependence of an indication of the output voltage at the output node and in dependence of a reference voltage for the output voltage. The driver stage has the drive transistor and a diode transistor, wherein the diode transistor forms a current mirror with the pass transistor. The driver stage has a current amplifier amplifies a drive current through the drive transistor to provide an amplified current through the diode transistor.

Abstract: This application relates to a circuit for generating an output voltage and regulating the output voltage to a target voltage. The circuit includes a switchable voltage divider circuit configured to generate a feedback voltage that is a variable fraction of the output voltage, an error amplifier stage configured to generate a control voltage on the basis of a reference voltage and the variable fraction of the output voltage, a buffer stage configured to generate the output voltage on the basis of the control voltage, and a charge injection circuit configured to inject charge at an intermediate node between the error amplifier stage and the buffer stage to thereby modify the control voltage generated by the error amplifier stage. The application further relates to a method of operating such circuit.

Abstract: A digital voltage regulator and a method to regulate an output voltage at an output node based on an input voltage is presented. The regulator has a driver stage with N driver slices, with N>1. Each of the N driver slices can be activated or deactivated individually. A driver slice comprises a current source to provide an output current component to the output node, if the driver slice is activated. Furthermore, the regulator has a control unit to activate a number n of the N driver slices, based on a deviation of a feedback voltage from a reference voltage, where the feedback voltage is dependent on the output voltage.

Abstract: A circuit for generating an output voltage, and regulating the output voltage to a target voltage, is described. The circuit comprises a pass device coupled between an input voltage level and an output voltage level, an error amplifier stage configured to generate a first control voltage on the basis of a reference voltage and the output voltage, a buffer stage configured to generate a drive signal for the pass device on the basis of the first control voltage, and a tracking circuit configured to track a voltage across the pass device and to generate a second control voltage on the basis of the voltage across the pass device. The buffer stage comprises a variable resistance element, for limiting a current flowing through the buffer stage on the basis of the second control voltage.

Abstract: A voltage regulator to provide a load current at an output node is presented. The voltage regulator has a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node from an input node. The voltage regulator contains a driver stage to set a gate voltage at a gate of the pass transistor based on a drive voltage at a gate of a drive transistor. The voltage regulator has voltage regulation means to set the drive voltage in dependence of an indication of the output voltage at the output node and in dependence of a reference voltage for the output voltage. The driver stage has the drive transistor and a diode transistor, wherein the diode transistor forms a current mirror with the pass transistor. The driver stage has a current amplifier amplifies a drive current through the drive transistor to provide an amplified current through the diode transistor.

Abstract: A voltage regulator which provides at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The voltage regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node from an input node, and a driver stage configured to set the gate voltage of the pass transistor based on a drive current. The voltage regulator has voltage regulation means to set the drive current in dependence of an indication of the output voltage at the output node and in dependence of a reference voltage for the output voltage. The voltage regulator has bypass regulation means to set the drive current in dependence of an indication of the gate-to-source voltage at the pass transistor and in dependence of a target voltage for the gate—to activate the voltage regulation means and/or the bypass regulation means. source voltage. The voltage regulator also comprises mode selection means.

Abstract: A linear regulator is presented. It comprises a first amplifier stage, one of the inputs being coupled with the output of the linear regulator. It has an intermediate amplifier stage. The input of the intermediate amplifier stage is coupled to the output of the first amplifier stage. It has a driver stage having a pass device driven by the output of the driver stage. The output of the pass device provides the output of the linear regulator. The regulator has a voltage-to-current feedback circuit coupled with the driver stage and the output of the first amplifier stage for regulating the output resistance of the first amplifier stage depending on load conditions of the linear regulator. The voltage-to-current feedback circuit has a transistor and a current limitation circuit to limit the regulation of the output resistance of the first amplifier stage to low load conditions of the linear regulator.

Abstract: This application relates to a circuit for generating an output voltage and regulating the output voltage to a target voltage. The circuit includes a switchable voltage divider circuit configured to generate a feedback voltage that is a variable fraction of the output voltage, an error amplifier stage configured to generate a control voltage on the basis of a reference voltage and the variable fraction of the output voltage, a buffer stage configured to generate the output voltage on the basis of the control voltage, and a charge injection circuit configured to inject charge at an intermediate node between the error amplifier stage and the buffer stage to thereby modify the control voltage generated by the error amplifier stage. The application further relates to a method of operating such circuit.

Abstract: A voltage regulator which provides at an output node a load current at an output voltage is described. The voltage regulator comprises a pass transistor for providing the load current at the output node from an input node, and a driver stage configured to set the gate voltage of the pass transistor based on a drive current. The voltage regulator has voltage regulation means to set the drive current in dependence of an indication of the output voltage at the output node and in dependence of a reference voltage for the output voltage. The voltage regulator has bypass regulation means to set the drive current in dependence of an indication of the gate-to-source voltage at the pass transistor and in dependence of a target voltage for the gate—to activate the voltage regulation means and/or the bypass regulation means. source voltage.

Abstract: Amplifiers, notably multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators (e.g. low-dropout regulators) configured to provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients are presented. An amplifier is described, which comprises a first amplification stage configured to provide an intermediate voltage, based on an outer feedback voltage and based on a reference voltage. Furthermore, the amplifier comprises an output stage configured to provide a load current at an output voltage based on the intermediate voltage. In addition, the amplifier comprises an outer feedback circuit configured to derive the outer feedback voltage from the output voltage. The output stage comprises a buffer configured to provide a drive voltage based on the intermediate voltage and based on an inner feedback voltage derived from the output voltage. The buffer comprises a pass device which is configured to provide the load current at the output voltage based on the drive voltage.

Abstract: A linear regulator is presented. It comprises a first amplifier stage, one of the inputs being coupled with the output of the linear regulator. It has an intermediate amplifier stage. The input of the intermediate amplifier stage is coupled to the output of the first amplifier stage. It has a driver stage having a pass device driven by the output of the driver stage. The output of the pass device provides the output of the linear regulator. The regulator has a voltage-to-current feedback circuit coupled with the driver stage and the output of the first amplifier stage for regulating the output resistance of the first amplifier stage depending on load conditions of the linear regulator. The voltage-to-current feedback circuit has a transistor and a current limitation circuit to limit the regulation of the output resistance of the first amplifier stage to low load conditions of the linear regulator.

Abstract: The present document relates to a current sensing and/or control circuit with reduced sensing errors. A current control circuit for controlling a load current into an electronic device is described. The current control circuit comprises an array of control transistors configured to adjust the load current provided at an output of the array of control transistors. The load current is drawn from a power supply at an input voltage. Furthermore, the power supply is coupled to an input of the array of control transistors. The circuit further comprises a reference transistor coupled to the power supply at an input of the reference transistor and a reference current source configured to draw a reference current at an output of the reference transistor.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to control current through a device biasing an output device in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage are disclosed. The circuits and methods are applicable to e.g. LDOs, amplifiers, or buffers. A control loop detects if the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage and regulates the drain-source voltage of the biasing device. The disclosure reduces power consumption in a driver stage in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage.

Abstract: Amplifiers, notably multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators (e.g. low-dropout regulators) configured to provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients are presented. An amplifier is described, which comprises a first amplification stage configured to provide an intermediate voltage, based on an outer feedback voltage and based on a reference voltage. Furthermore, the amplifier comprises an output stage configured to provide a load current at an output voltage based on the intermediate voltage. In addition, the amplifier comprises an outer feedback circuit configured to derive the outer feedback voltage from the output voltage. The output stage comprises a buffer configured to provide a drive voltage based on the intermediate voltage and based on an inner feedback voltage derived from the output voltage. The buffer comprises a pass device which is configured to provide the load current at the output voltage based on the drive voltage.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to control current through a device biasing an output device in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage are disclosed. The circuits and methods are applicable to e.g. LDOs, amplifiers, or buffers. A control loop detects if the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage and regulates the drain-source voltage of the biasing device. The disclosure reduces power consumption in a driver stage in case the supply voltage is not higher than the output voltage.