VOLTAGE REGULATING CIRCUIT AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A REGULATED DC OUTPUT VOLTAGE FROM AN UNREGULATED DC INPUT VOLTAGE

摘要

A voltage regulator receives an unregulated DC input voltage supply and provides a regulated DC output voltage. A primary pass element and an external resistor are located in a primary current path through which a load current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal. The voltage regulator includes two control circuits that control the impedances of two pass elements. Power dissipation can be improved and the dropout voltage can be reduced by maintaining the voltage on an internal node of the voltage regulator.