High-voltage tolerant voltage regulator

摘要

Circuits and methodologies related to high-voltage tolerant regulators are disclosed. In some implementations, a voltage regulator can be configured to be capable of being in a regulating state and a bypass state. In the regulating state, an input voltage greater than a selected value can be regulated so as to yield a desired output voltage such as a substantially constant voltage. In the bypass state, an input voltage at or less than the selected value can be regulated so as to yield an output voltage that substantially tracks the input voltage. Such a capability of switching between two modes can provide advantageous features such as reducing the likelihood of damage in a powered circuit due to high input voltage, and extending the operating duration of a power source such as a rechargeable battery. Also disclosed are examples of how the foregoing features can be implemented in different products and methods of operation and fabrication.

主权项

1. A wireless device, comprising:
at least one antenna configured to facilitate transmission and receiving of radio-frequency signals; a transceiver interconnected to the antenna and configured to generate a radio frequency signal for transmission through the antenna and to process a radio frequency signal received from the antenna; and a voltage regulator interconnected to the transceiver and configured to provide a desired voltage to the transceiver at an output node, the voltage regulator further configured to be capable of operating in a regulation mode in which the desired voltage includes a regulated voltage, the voltage regulator further configured to be capable of operating in a bypass mode in which the desired voltage includes a bypass voltage, the voltage regulator including a switch coupled to an input node and the output node and including a pass transistor configured to be controlled by a control signal, the voltage regulator further including a voltage generator and a differential amplifier, the voltage generator configured to receive an input voltage from the input node and to provide a reference voltage and one or more bias voltages to the differential amplifier, the differential amplifier configured to generate the control signal for the pass transistor, the voltage generator including a first stack of field effect transistors configured to generate the one or more bias voltages and including at least one field effect transistor that operates in a sub-threshold mode when the voltage regulator operates in the bypass mode, the voltage generator further including a second stack of field effect transistors and a plurality of diodes, the second stack of field effect transistors configured to generate a mirrored current by mirroring a current flowing through the first stack of field effect transistors, and to generate the reference voltage based on providing the mirrored current to the plurality of diodes.