Sink/Source Output Stage with Operating Point Current Control Circuit for Fast Transient Loading

摘要

A voltage regulator is described. It comprises an amplification stage to control a voltage level of a first gain node and of a second gain node in response to an input voltage, to activate a first and a second output stage, respectively. It further comprises the first output stage to source a current at an output node of the voltage regulator from a first potential. The voltage regulator comprises the second output stage to sink a current at the output node to a second potential. The voltage regulator comprises a first operating point control circuit to set the voltage level of the first gain node such that a first maintenance current is sourced by the first output stage; and/or a second operating point control circuit to set the voltage level of the second gain node such that a second maintenance current is sunk by the second output stage.

主权项

1) A voltage regulator comprising
an amplification stage configured to control a voltage level of a first gain node and of a second gain node in response to an input voltage at an input node, in order to activate a first and a second output stage, respectively; wherein the second gain node is different from the first gain node; the first output stage configured to source a current at an output node of the voltage regulator from a first potential, in dependence of the voltage level of the first gain node; wherein the first output stage is activated if the current which is sourced at the output node exceeds a pre-determined first maintenance current; the second output stage configured to sink a current at the output node to a second potential, in dependence of the voltage level of the second gain node; wherein the first potential is different from the second potential; wherein the second output stage is activated if the current which is sunk at the output node exceeds a pre-determined second maintenance current; and a first operating point control circuit configured to set the voltage level of the first gain node such that the first maintenance current is sourced by the first output stage, when the second output stage is activated; and/or a second operating point control circuit configured to set the voltage level of the second gain node such that the second maintenance current is sunk by the second output stage, when the first output stage is activated.