Micropower, low-voltage, regulator circuits

Claim 2

In a regulating circuit, in combination: means responsive to a control current for supplying current to a load at least sufficient to produce a voltage of a given value across said load; diode means having a voltage threshold for conduction equal to said given value connected in the forward direction across said load for sensing the voltage across said load; and means responsive to current flow in the forward direction through said diode means which occurs when the voltage across said load tends to exceed said given value for by-passing a sufficient portion of said control current to return the voltage across said load to its given value.

Claim 3

In a circuit as set forth in claim 1, said diode means comprising a plurality of series connected diodes.

Claim 4

In a circuit as set forth in claim 2, at least one of said diodes comprising the emitter-to-base diode of a transistor.

Claim 5

In a circuit as set forth in claim 1, the circuit for sensing the voltage across said load consisting solely of diodes.

Claim 6

In a circuit as set forth in claim 1, said means responsive to control current comprising a first transistor the emitter-to-collector path of which is essentially in series with said load and said control current being supplied to the base-to-emitter diode thereof, and said means for by-passing a portion of said control current comprising a second transistor the emitter-to-collector path of which is connected across the emitter-to-base diode of said first transistor and the base-to-emitter diode of which is connected to receive a current in response to current passing through said diode means.

Claim 7

In a circuit as set forth in claim 5, further including: a damping circuit connected across the emitter-to-base diode of said second transistor for reducing the tendency of said regulating circuit to oscillate.

Claim 8

In a circuit as set forth in claim 6, said damping circuit comprising a resistor in shunt with a capacitor.

Claim 9

In a circuit as set forth in claim 5, further including: a resistor in series with said diode means; and a diode connected in the forward direction across the emitter-to-base diode of said second transistor.

Claim 10

A regulating circuit for translating a supply voltage of less than two volts to a second, somewhat lower regulated voltage across a load comprising, in combination: a first transistor having an emitter-to-collector path and a base electrode, said emitter-to-collector path being connected in series with said load; input terminals to which said supply voltage may be applied connected to the base and emitter, respectively, of said first transistor for causing that transistor to supply sufficient current to said load to cause a voltage at least equal to said second voltage level to appear across said load; diode means connected across said load and having a threshold for conduction at said second voltage level; and a second transistor, the emitter-to-collector path of which is connected across the base-to-emitter path of said first transistor, and the base-to-emitter diode of which is connected to receive a flow of forward current in response to current flow through said diode means.

Claim 11

A regulating circuit for translating a supply voltage of less than two volts to a second, somewhat lower regulated voltage across a load comprising, in combination: a first transistor having an emitter-to-collector path and a base electrode, said emitter-to-collector path being connected in series with said load; input terminals to which said supply voltage may be applied connected to the base and emitter, respectively, of said first transistor for causing that transistor to supply sufficient current to said load to cause a voltage at least equal to said second voltage level to appear across said load; diode means connected across said load and having a threshold for conduction at said second voltage level; and a second transistor, the emitter-to-collector path of which is connected across the base-to-emitter path of said first transistor, and the base-to-emitter diode of which is connected to receive a flow of forward current in response to current flow through said diode means.

Claim 12

A regulating circuit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said supply voltage is that produced by a single cell battery and is approximately 1.5 volts and wherein said diode means comprises two silicon diodes series connected in the forward direction across said load.

Claim 13

A regulating circuit as set forth in claim 10 wherein one of said diodes comprises the emitter-to-base diode of a third transistor, the emitter-to-collector path of which is connected to the base-to-emitter diode of said second transistor.