Linear voltage regulator
[technical field]
The utility model relates to a kind of linear voltage regulator, relates in particular to a kind of linear voltage regulator that can raise the efficiency under the operation of light load mode.
[background technology]
Voltage regulator is used for supplying the needed load that outputs current under the output voltage that overregulates.Linear voltage regulator uses a power transistor, operates in the variable resistor district as passive component.The variable resistance of output voltage FEEDBACK CONTROL power transistor, what make that input voltage (for example cell voltage) deducts power transistor becomes desired output voltage through overregulating after the potential difference (PD) between the variable resistor two ends.Under the operation of light load mode, because the required output current that provides reduces, yet that error amplifier institute consumed current is still almost kept is fixing, so cause the low excessively shortcoming of light load mode efficient of the linear voltage regulator of prior art comparatively speaking.
Fig. 1 shows the detailed circuit diagram of the linear voltage regulator 10 of prior art.As shown in the figure, the linear voltage regulator 10 of prior art has a power transistor 11, is series at input voltage V
InAnd between output terminals A.The error signal V that the grid of power transistor 11 is exported by the output terminal of an error amplifier 12
Err Control.Error amplifier 12 has an inverting input, is used to receive a reference voltage signal V
Ref,, be used to receive a feedback voltage signal V with a non-inverting input
FbTherefore, the error signal V that is exported from error amplifier 12
ErrPromptly represent feedback voltage signal V
FbWith reference voltage signal V
RefBetween difference.Reference voltage signal V
RefDetermined to have a predetermined magnitude of voltage by generating circuit from reference voltage 13.Feedback voltage signal V
FbThen produced, in order to represent output voltage V by the feedback circuit 14 that is connected in output terminals A
OutFor example, feedback circuit 14 can be implemented by a divider resistance, and wherein resistance R 1 and R2 are series between output terminals A and earth potential, makes the branch pressure voltage that Coupling point provided [R2/ (R1+R2)] the * V of resistance R 1 and R2
OutAs feedback voltage signal V
FbTherefore, linear voltage regulator 10 output voltage V of regulating via the output terminals A supply
OutAnd needed output current I
OutTo load 15.In order to improve output voltage V
OutRipple, capacitor C can be connected between output terminals A and earth potential.
Along with load 15 needed electric current differences, the output current I that linear voltage regulator 10 is provided
OutChange either large or smallly, but output voltage V
OutAll be maintained at [(R1+R2)/and R2] * V
RefFor the big output current I of enough ability supplies is arranged
Out, power transistor 11 must have enough big size.Yet large-sized power transistor 11 also causes the result that grid capacitance increases simultaneously.In the case, for the grid of power controlling transistor 11 effectively, error amplifier 12 must be designed to have less output impedance, and this will cause bigger current drain.Therefore, when linear voltage regulator 10 operates in light load mode, that is output current I
OutThe big current drain variation less or be similar to zero, that the efficient of linear voltage regulator 10 will be caused because of error amplifier 12.
Therefore, expect to have a kind of linear voltage regulator that can under light load mode, raise the efficiency.
[utility model content]
Because foregoing problems, a purpose of the present utility model is to provide a kind of linear voltage regulator, can be issued to best efficient in light load mode.
Another purpose of the present utility model is to provide a kind of linear voltage regulator, and enough big output current can be provided under the heavy duty pattern.
According to the utility model, a kind of linear voltage regulator is provided, comprising: a underload transistor, its have a grid and be coupled in an input voltage and an output voltage between; One error amplifier is used in response to a reference voltage signal and a feedback voltage signal and produces an error signal, is used to control transistorized this grid of this underload, and this feedback voltage signal is represented this output voltage; One heavy duty transistor, its have a grid and be coupled in this input voltage and this output voltage between; One grid control circuit, it is coupled in transistorized this grid of this heavy duty; An and mode selection circuit, it is coupled between this error amplifier and this grid control circuit, be used to produce a sensed current signal, its representative transistorized electric current of this underload of flowing through, and when this sensed current signal during greater than a threshold current signal, this mode selection circuit allows this error signal to control transistorized this grid of this heavy duty via this grid control circuit.
Use two power transistors according to linear voltage regulator of the present utility model, be connected in parallel to each other between input voltage and output voltage, one of them power transistor has bigger current driving ability (that is bigger transistor size), and another power transistor then has less current driving force (that is less transistor size).Under light load mode, according to linear voltage regulator of the present utility model only conducting have the power transistor of less current driving ability, make error amplifier institute consumed current reduce, thereby raise the efficiency.
In addition, use a current detecting unit, detect the electric current of the power transistor of the less current driving ability of flowing through according to linear voltage regulator of the present utility model.When the detected electric current of current detecting unit surpasses a predetermined critical electric current value, represent the operation of linear voltage regulator to enter the heavy duty pattern.Under the heavy duty pattern, mode selection circuit has power transistor than high current drive capability via the extra conducting of grid control circuit, thereby the enough big load that outputs current to is provided.
[description of drawings]
Fig. 1 shows the detailed circuit diagram of the linear voltage regulator of prior art.
Fig. 2 shows the circuit module figure according to linear voltage regulator of the present utility model.
Fig. 3 shows the detailed circuit diagram according to grid control circuit of the present utility model and mode selection circuit.
The primary clustering symbol description:
The linear voltage regulator of 10 prior aries
11 heavy duty power transistors
12 error amplifiers
13 generating circuit from reference voltage
14 feedback circuits
15 loads
20 linear voltage regulators
21 underload power transistors
22 grid control circuits
23 mode selection circuits
24 current detecting units
25 electric current comparing units
The A output terminal
C
oElectric capacity
I
OutOutput current
I
GenSensed current signal
I
ThThreshold current signal
INV1, the INV2 phase inverter
Q1 PMOS transistor
Q2 ~ Q5 nmos pass transistor
R1, R2 resistance
The SS mode select signal
TG1, the TG2 transmission gate
V
InInput voltage
V
OutOutput voltage
V
ErrError signal
V
FbFeedback voltage signal
V
RefReference voltage signal
[embodiment]
Explanation hereinafter and accompanying drawing will make aforementioned and other purpose of the present utility model, feature, more obvious with advantage.Describe in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings according to preferred embodiment of the present utility model at this.
Fig. 2 shows the circuit module figure according to linear voltage regulator 20 of the present utility model.Similar in appearance to being indicated of circuit unit shown in Figure 1, and, hereinafter omit its explanation in the circuit unit shown in Figure 2 for for the purpose of the simplified illustration with identical Ref. No..As shown in the figure, have a heavy duty power transistor 11 and a underload power transistor 21, be connected in parallel to each other in input voltage V according to linear voltage regulator 20 of the present utility model
InAnd between output terminals A.Underload power transistor 21 be dimensioned to size less than heavy duty power transistor 11, make the current driving ability of underload power transistor 21 less than the current driving ability of heavy duty power transistor 11.According among the embodiment of the present utility model, the current driving ability of heavy duty power transistor 11 is designed to five times of current driving ability of underload power transistor 21.The grid of underload power transistor 21 is directly connected in the output terminal of error amplifier 12, thereby is subjected to error signal V
ErrControl.Yet the grid of heavy duty power transistor 11 is connected in the output terminal of error amplifier 12 indirectly via grid control circuit 22, thereby is subjected to error signal V
ErrControl, perhaps be connected in input voltage V
InThereby, enter not on-state.
The mode select signal SS that grid control circuit 22 is exported by mode selection circuit 23 is controlled, and is connected in the output terminal of error amplifier 12 actually or is connected in input voltage V with the grid that determines heavy duty power transistor 11
InParticularly, mode selection circuit 23 is regarded as the external circuit of linear voltage regulator 20, it detects the electric current of the underload power transistor 21 of flowing through at any time and adjustment modes is selected signal SS, whether activate heavy duty power transistor 11 with decision, and then be issued to best efficient and enough big output current I is provided under the heavy duty pattern in light load mode effectively via grid control circuit 22
Out
Mode selection circuit 23 comprises a current detecting unit 24 and an electric current comparing unit 25.Current detecting unit 24 produces a sensed current signal I
Sen, it is proportional to the electric current of the underload power transistor 21 of flowing through.Electric current comparing unit 25 is in order to compare sensed current signal I
SenWith a predetermined threshold current signal I
ThAs sensed current signal I
SenLess than threshold current signal I
ThThe time, that is linear voltage regulator 20 operates under the light load mode, mode select signal SS makes grid control circuit 22 prevent error signal V
ErrBe supplied to heavy duty power transistor 11, and make the 11 not conductings of heavy duty power transistor.In the case, error amplifier 12 only need be controlled the underload power transistor 21 with reduced size, thereby its required consumed current reduces.Since under light load mode, needed output current I
OutQuite small, so only need use underload power transistor 21 can obtain enough current driving abilities.As sensed current signal I
SenGreater than threshold current signal I
ThThe time, that is linear voltage regulator 20 operates under the heavy duty pattern, mode select signal SS makes grid control circuit 22 permissible error signal V
ErrBe supplied to heavy duty power transistor 11.As a result, error amplifier 12 is controlled the underload power transistor 21 with reduced size simultaneously and is had the heavy duty power transistor 11 of large-size, thereby keeps enough big output current I effectively
Out
Therefore, under light load mode, obtain best efficient effectively and enough big output current I is provided under the heavy duty pattern according to linear voltage regulator 20 of the present utility model
Out
Fig. 3 shows according to the detailed circuit diagram of grid control circuit 22 of the present utility model with mode selection circuit 23.Similar in appearance to being indicated of circuit unit shown in Figure 2, and, hereinafter omit its explanation in the circuit unit shown in Figure 3 for for the purpose of the simplified illustration with identical Ref. No..As shown in the figure, grid control circuit 22 has two transmission gate TG1 and TG2.The grid of power transistor 11 is coupled to input voltage V via transmission gate TG1
In, and the output terminal that is coupled to error amplifier 12 via transmission gate TG2 is in order to receive error signal V
ErrThe conducting of transmission gate TG1 and TG2 is whether by from mode selection circuit 23 and the mode select signal SS that comes is controlled.Mode select signal SS has first state (for example low voltage level) and second state (for example high-voltage level).When mode select signal SS is in first state, transmission gate TG1 conducting but not conducting of transmission gate TG2.In the case, the grid of heavy duty power transistor 11 is coupled in input voltage V via transmission gate TG1
InSo 11 not conductings of heavy duty power transistor and linear voltage regulator 20 operate in light load mode.When mode select signal SS is in second state, transmission gate not conducting of TG1 but transmission gate TG2 conducting.In the case, the grid of heavy duty power transistor 11 is subjected to error signal V via transmission gate TG2
ErrControl, so linear voltage regulator 20 operates in the heavy duty pattern.Therefore, in response to mode select signal SS, grid control circuit 22 can allow input voltage V effectively
InControl the grid or the permissible error signal V of heavy duty power transistor 11 via transmission gate TG1
ErrControl the grid of heavy duty power transistor 11 via transmission gate TG2.
In preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3, the current detecting unit 24 of mode selection circuit 23 is implemented by a PMOS transistor Q1.The grid of transistor Q1 is connected in the grid of underload power transistor 21, and its source electrode is connected in the source electrode of underload power transistor 21.Therefore, the drain electrode of transistor Q1 can be supplied a sensed current signal I
Sen, it is proportional to the electric current of the underload power transistor 21 of flowing through.
In preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3, electric current comparing unit 25 is designed to have the current comparator of hysteresis effect, thereby prevents to take place in the transition period that light load mode and heavy duty pattern are switched mutually the noise do not expected.Particularly, electric current comparing unit 25 utilizes the formed current mirror of nmos pass transistor Q2 to Q3 to carry out sensed current signal I
SenWith threshold current signal I
ThComparison.The grid of transistor Q2 and Q3 intercouples, and its source electrode all is connected to earth potential.The drain electrode of transistor Q2 is used to receive sensed current signal I
Sen, the drain electrode of transistor Q3 then is used to receive threshold current signal I
ThIn light load mode, because sensed current signal I
SenLess than threshold current signal I
ThSo the drain potential of transistor Q3 will be pulled near input voltage V
InIn the case, be in low voltage level, make transmission gate TG1 conducting but not conducting of transmission gate TG2 from the mode select signal SS of phase inverter INV2 output.As a result, the grid of heavy duty power transistor 11 is coupled in input voltage V via transmission gate TG1
InSo, the 11 not conductings of heavy duty power transistor.As sensed current signal I
SenGreater than threshold current signal I
ThThe time, the drain potential of the transistor Q3 that flows through will be pulled down to closely current potential.In the case, be in high-voltage level, make transmission gate not conducting of TG1 but transmission gate TG2 conducting from the mode select signal SS of phase inverter INV2 output.As a result, the grid of heavy duty power transistor 11 is subjected to error signal V via transmission gate TG2
ErrControl, so linear voltage regulator 20 operates in the heavy duty pattern.
In order to prevent sensed current signal I
SenBe greater than or less than threshold current signal I
ThTransition period in the switching noise do not expected of generation, electric current comparing unit 25 more is provided with nmos pass transistor Q4 and Q5, thereby current ratio hysteresis effect is provided.Particularly, the grid of transistor Q4 and drain electrode are connected to grid and the drain electrode of transistor Q3.Transistor Q5 is then as switch, and the mode select signal SS that is exported by phase inverter INV2 is controlled.When mode select signal SS was in low voltage level, not conducting of transistor Q5 made transistor Q4 can't form current channel.In the case, sensed current signal I
SenInevitable less than threshold current signal I
Th, so just can keep the drain potential of transistor Q3 in high-voltage level.In case sensed current signal I
SenIncrease and surpass threshold current signal I
ThThe time, the drain potential of transistor Q3 descends and makes mode select signal SS transition become high-voltage level.In the case, transistor Q5 makes transistor Q4 form current channel because of the mode select signal SS conducting of high-voltage level, and the result has further dragged down the drain potential of transistor Q3.If sensed current signal I between this transfer period
SenBecause of being reduced to, disturbance is slightly less than threshold current signal I
Th, because the current channel that transistor Q4 is provided still can allow the threshold current signal I of a part
ThFlow through, cause the state transformation of mode select signal SS so prevent the drain potential of transistor Q3 from being drawn high effectively.
Though the utility model is illustrated as illustration by preferred embodiment, be interpreted as: the utility model is not limited thereto the embodiment that is disclosed.On the contrary, to be intended to contain be tangible various modification and similar configuration to the utility model for a person skilled in the art.Therefore, the scope of claims should be according to the widest annotation, and this type of is revised and similar configuration to contain all.