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US5373225A
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US
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Low-drop voltage regulator
Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL
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Filing: 1992-09-08
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Granted: 1994-12-13
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Expires: 2012-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A low-drop voltage regulator includes a P-type power transistor having an input terminal connected to a supply source, an output terminal connected to a load, and a control terminal driven by the output of an operational amplifier having its non-inverting input connected to a reference voltage source and its inverting input connected to the output terminal of the power transistor. To improve the regulation characteristics of the regulator without jeopardizing stability, even under normally critical conditions, provision is made for a feedback network including a capacitive component between the output and inverting input of the operational amplifier.
Inventors
- 👤 Vanni Poletto
- 👤 Marco Morelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/46; G05F1/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: a power element having an input terminal coupled to a supply voltage source, an output terminal coupled to a load, and a control terminal; an error comparator having a first input coupled to a reference voltage source, a second input coupled to the output terminal of the power element, and a low-impedance output coupled to the control terminal; and a feedback network, having a reactance, connected between the low-impedance output and the second input of the error comparator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: a power element having an input terminal coupled to a supply voltage source, an output terminal coupled to a load, and a control terminal; an error comparator having a first input coupled to a reference voltage source, a second input coupled to the output terminal of the power element, and a low-impedance output coupled to the control terminal; and a feedback network, having a reactance, connected between the low-impedance output and the second input of the error comparator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the power element is a P-type power element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the feedback network includes a resistor and a capacitor connected in series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the error comparator includes a voltage amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 3, wherein the error comparator includes a voltage amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A low-drop regulator as set forth in claim 4, wherein the voltage amplifier includes an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input coupled to the reference voltage source, an inverting input coupled to the output terminal of the power element, and an output coupled to the low-impedance output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A low-drop regulator as set forth in claim 5, wherein the voltage amplifier includes an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input coupled to the reference voltage source, an inverting input coupled to the output terminal of the power element, and an output coupled to the low-impedance output.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a drive element coupled between the low-impedance output of the error comparator and the control terminal of the power element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a drive element coupled between the low-impedance output of the error comparator and the control terminal of the power element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a first resistive element coupled between the second input of the error comparator and the output terminal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a first resistive element coupled between the second input of the error comparator and the output terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a second resistive element coupled between the second input of the error comparator and the reference voltage source, and wherein the first and second resistive elements have substantially the same value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in any of claims 1-12, further comprising a low-value, capacitive element connected between the output terminal and a reference potential line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: modulating means, operative in response to a drive signal, for modulating a flow of current between a voltage supply and an output terminal to generate an output signal; control means for varying the drive signal in proportion to the output signal, said control means including: means for generating a low source-impedance control signal; a drive stage that generates the drive signal in response to the control signal; and coupling means for coupling the drive stage and the means for generating; and a feedback path including a reactance coupled between the output terminal and the coupling means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: modulating means, operative in response to a drive signal, for modulating a flow of current between a voltage supply and an output terminal to generate an output signal; control means for varying the drive signal in proportion to the output signal, said control means including: means for generating a low source-impedance control signal; a drive stage that generates the drive signal in response to the control signal; and coupling means for coupling the drive stage and the means for generating; and a feedback path including a reactance coupled between the output terminal and the coupling means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 14, wherein the modulating means includes a P-type transistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 14, wherein the feedback path includes a resistor and a capacitor connected in series.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 16, wherein the control means includes a voltage amplifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 17, wherein the voltage amplifier includes an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input coupled to a reference signal, an inverting input coupled to the output terminal, and an output, and wherein the feedback path is coupled between the inverting input and output of the operational amplifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 14 wherein the drive stage comprises a single drive transistor connected between the output of the operational amplifier and the modulating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a first resistive element coupled between the inverting input of the operational amplifier and the output terminal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 20, further comprising a second resistive element coupled between the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier and the reference voltage source, and wherein the first and second resistive elements have substantially the same value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in any of claims 14-21, further comprising a low-value capacitive element coupled between the output terminal and a reference potential line.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
76 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: a power element having an input terminal coupled to a supply voltage source, an output terminal coupled to a load, and a control terminal; an error comparator having at least one reference input coupled to a reference source, at least one feedback input coupled to the output terminal of the power element, and a voltage-source output; and a single drive transistor, coupled between the low-impedance voltage-source output and the control terminal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: a power element having an input terminal coupled to a supply voltage source, an output terminal coupled to a load, and a control terminal; an error comparator having at least one reference input coupled to a reference source, at least one feedback input coupled to the output terminal of the power element, and a voltage-source output; and a single drive transistor, coupled between the low-impedance voltage-source output and the control terminal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 23, wherein the power element is one of a P-type and an N-type, and the single drive transistor is the other of the P-type and N-type.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 23, further comprising a feedback network coupled between the output of the error comparator and the at least one feedback input of the error comparator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 25, wherein the feedback network comprises a resistor and a capacitor connected in series.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 26, further comprising a resistor coupled between the output terminal and the at least one feedback input.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 23, wherein the error comparator comprises an operational amplifier which acts as a voltage source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 1, further comprising a drive element connected between the low-impedance output of the error comparator and the control terminal of the power element.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 29, wherein the drive element includes one and not more than one transistor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 30, wherein: the power element includes a transistor that is one of a P-type and N-type, and wherein the drive element transistor is the other of the P-type and N-type.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 1, further comprising a first resistor coupled between the output terminal and the second input of the error comparator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 32, wherein the feedback network includes a resistor and a capacitor connected in series.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 33, further comprising a second resistor coupled between the reference voltage source and the first input of the error comparator, the first and second resistors having substantially equal resistances.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 34, further comprising a drive element coupled between the low-impedance output of the error comparator and the control terminal of the power element, the drive element including one and not more than one transistor.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 12, wherein the drive element includes a transistor of a first type and the drive transistor is of a second type, the first and second types being different.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The low-drop voltage regulator of claim 36, wherein the first type is P-type.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
82 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: a power element having an input terminal coupled to a supply voltage source, an output terminal coupled to a load, and a control terminal; an error comparator having a first input coupled to a reference voltage source, a second input coupled to the output terminal, and an output coupled to the control terminal; and a compensation network, including a resistor connected in series with a capacitor, coupled between the output and second input of the error comparator.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
82 words
A low-drop voltage regulator comprising: a power element having an input terminal coupled to a supply voltage source, an output terminal coupled to a load, and a control terminal; an error comparator having a first input coupled to a reference voltage source, a second input coupled to the output terminal, and an output coupled to the control terminal; and a compensation network, including a resistor connected in series with a capacitor, coupled between the output and second input of the error comparator.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 38, wherein the error comparator comprises a voltage amplifier.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 39, wherein the voltage amplifier comprises an operational amplifier having a voltage-source output.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 40, further comprising a low-value capacitive element coupled between the output terminal and a reference potential line.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 41, wherein the capacitive element has a low equivalent series resistance.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The low-drop voltage regulator as set forth in claim 38, further comprising a resistor coupled between the output terminal of the power element and the second input of the error comparator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4933826A
Cited
US5038266A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-12 | 1998-06-13 | 1998-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-12 | 2002-06-13 | 2002-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-12 | 2006-06-13 | 2006-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |