EP1847901A1 - Eingangsabfrageleitung für Low-Headroom-Regler - Google Patents

Eingangsabfrageleitung für Low-Headroom-Regler Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1847901A1
EP1847901A1 EP06008131A EP06008131A EP1847901A1 EP 1847901 A1 EP1847901 A1 EP 1847901A1 EP 06008131 A EP06008131 A EP 06008131A EP 06008131 A EP06008131 A EP 06008131A EP 1847901 A1 EP1847901 A1 EP 1847901A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
voltage
active device
regulator circuit
output
voltage regulator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06008131A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Christian Grewing
Wenche Einerman
Anders Emericks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Infineon Technologies AG
Original Assignee
Infineon Technologies AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Infineon Technologies AG filed Critical Infineon Technologies AG
Priority to EP06008131A priority Critical patent/EP1847901A1/de
Publication of EP1847901A1 publication Critical patent/EP1847901A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05F—SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
    • G05F1/00—Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and fed back to a device within the system to restore the detected quantity to its predetermined value or values, i.e. retroactive systems
    • G05F1/10—Regulating voltage or current
    • G05F1/46—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc
    • G05F1/56—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices
    • G05F1/59—Regulating voltage or current wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is dc using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of voltage regulators, and in particular to a voltage regulator having an improved layout as defined in claim 1.
  • Linear voltage regulators are available as integrated circuits and provide a regulated output voltage adjusting for variations in a supply voltage. Further, the regulated output voltage of a linear voltage regulator should also be independent of the load current. All linear regulators require an input voltage that is at least some minimum amount higher than the desired output voltage. This headroom, i.e. the input-to-output voltage drop, is specified for a given regulator. However, the regulator should not require a great amount of overhead in voltage or current in order to function properly, since a regulator having a small minimum required voltage across it dissipates as little internal power as possible and thus has the highest efficiency. Low headroom regulators provide a minimum of "wasted" current and show a high efficiency.
  • sense lines can be connected between sense terminals of the regulator to measure the voltage immediately at the load and by this compensate for any voltage drop on the load lines.
  • the nominal output voltage always refers to the actual output terminals and compensation of the voltage drop on the load lines is generally restricted to a maximum of 5% of the nominal voltage and has to be considered when choosing a supply.
  • a voltage regulator comprising an input pad, an output pad and a first active device for regulating the output voltage.
  • the voltage regulator further comprises a second active device that is arranged between the input pad and output pad.
  • the first and second active devices are thus connected in parallel between the input pad and output pad of the circuit.
  • the inventive layout of the device provides a means for taking voltage drops on the input line into account and compensating for it by providing an additional path for the load current. Further, the layout is simple in that it does not require difficult wire connections or larger number of components. A cost-efficient and improved design for a voltage regulator is thereby provided.
  • the second active device of the voltage regulator circuit is connected directly between the input pad and output pad, whereas the first active device is placed in an active device area farther away from the input pad.
  • This physical division of the active device transistors provide a cost-efficient solution providing an improved performance of the regulator. More specifically, the regulator provides an increased possible load current for a given headroom.
  • the first active device has a higher resistance than the second active device.
  • the second active device is not affected by voltage drops on the input line to same extent as the first active device.
  • Suitable ratios of the resistance of the second device and the resistance of the first device comprise about 1:10 or 1:50.
  • the voltage regulator circuit is arranged to provide load currents of more than 250 mA, and a headroom of more than 300 mV. Thereby, the voltage regulator circuit is suitable for providing power to a radio frequency integrated circuit.
  • a regulator comprises three main parts: a voltage reference to calibrate the output voltage, a pass element to adjust the current delivered to the load, and some kind of feedback mechanism to respond to errors at the output of the regulator.
  • a voltage regulator is arranged to maintain a constant voltage output irrespective of input voltage and load current. Most voltage regulators operate by comparing the actual output voltage to some internal fixed reference voltage. Any difference is amplified and used to control the regulation element, i.e. a negative feedback loop. If the output voltage is too low, the regulation element is commanded to produce a higher voltage. If the output voltage is too high, the regulation element is commanded to produce a lower voltage. In this way, the output voltage is held roughly constant.
  • the headroom, also called dropout voltage, of a regulator circuit is defined as the minimum voltage drop required across the regulator for enable it to maintain a desired output voltage.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the invention.
  • a voltage regulator circuit 1 in accordance with the invention comprises an input pad 2 and an output pad 3 in a conventional manner. Further, a conventional error amplifier 8, for example an operational amplifier, and output sense line 9 are provided. As was explained in the introductory part of the description, the voltage drop on the output line, such voltage drop indicated at 5, is taken into account by means of the regulation circuitry, that is, by means of the feedback loop. For high load currents the voltage drop of the input line will also decrease the headroom of the active device of the regulators and should be taken into account.
  • Regulating elements are used for regulating the output current.
  • the output load current is increased by arranging the active device transistors in an innovative way.
  • the main active device indicated in the figure by reference numeral 6, is placed in conventional manner in an active device area some distance away from the input pad 2.
  • an auxiliary transistor also herein denoted input sense line active transistor, is arranged directly between the input pad 2 and the output pad 3.
  • This auxiliary transistor is indicated in the figure by reference numeral 7.
  • the auxiliary transistor 7 increases the possible load current by creating an additional path from the input pad 2 to the output pad 3. This additional path is, as is shown in the figure, a parallel path for the load current.
  • the main active device 6 and the auxiliary transistor 7 are connected in parallel and share a portion of the total current.
  • the parasitic resistance of the auxiliary transistor 7 is smaller than the parasitic resistance of the main active device 6.
  • the ratio between the resistance of the auxiliary transistor 7 and the main active device 6 could, for example, be approximately 1:10, or 1:50 or 1:100 depending on the specific application. It is realised that other ratios can be implemented as well.
  • the auxiliary transistor 7 is connected directly between the input pad 2 and output pad 3, whereas the main active device 6 is placed in an active device area. There may occur a voltage drop on the input line 4, for example generated by changes in the load current. If this voltage drop is such that the input to output voltage difference falls below the working point or quiescent point for the main active device 6, the auxiliary transistor 7 supplies some of the current. Stated differently, any voltage drop in the input bond-wire will be compensated for by means of the auxiliary transistor 7.
  • the resistance of the input line determines the amount of current sharing. That is, if the load current generates a voltage drop on the input line 4 that will decrease the headroom of the main active device 6, then the auxiliary transistor 7 takes some of the current. Thereby the possible load current of the voltage regulator circuit 1 is increased for a specific, given headroom.
  • the main active device 6 has a resistance of 1 ⁇ and the auxiliary transistor 7 has a resistance of 0,10 ⁇ , giving a 1:10 ratio of the resistances.
  • the auxiliary transistor 7 provides the remaining 20 mA. This is because a voltage drop on the input line does not affect the auxiliary transistor 7 to same extent. That is, the auxiliary transistor 7 cuts in when the working point is lowered for the main active device 6, since the parasitic resistance of the auxiliary transistor 7 is lower than for the main active device 6.
  • the main active device 7 comprises any required number of transistors.
  • the active device transistors are preferably CMOS (Complementary Metal-oxide semiconductor) transistors, although other types of transistors are conceivable.
  • CMOS Complementary Metal-oxide semiconductor
  • the inventive layout of the voltage regulator is suitable for providing output currents up to, for example, 250 mA and a headroom of more than 300 mV. Further, the voltage regulator circuit 1 is suitable in arrangements for providing a regulated voltage of for example 5 V.
  • the above-described voltage regulator circuit can be utilized in a wide range of applications, and in particular for wireless communication applications.
  • the voltage regulator circuit in accordance with the invention may be arranged to provide power to radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs).
  • RFICs radio frequency integrated circuits
  • portable electronic equipment such as cellular phones and other handheld electronic devices, an efficient voltage regulation is desirable for prolonging the battery life.
  • the present invention provides a voltage regulator circuit having an innovative layout, whereby a number of advantages are achieved.
  • the load current can be increased for given headroom.
  • the invention thus provides an improved voltage regulator with an inventive, yet simple, way of taking voltage drops on the circuit wire lines into account.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Continuous-Control Power Sources That Use Transistors (AREA)
EP06008131A 2006-04-19 2006-04-19 Eingangsabfrageleitung für Low-Headroom-Regler Withdrawn EP1847901A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06008131A EP1847901A1 (de) 2006-04-19 2006-04-19 Eingangsabfrageleitung für Low-Headroom-Regler

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06008131A EP1847901A1 (de) 2006-04-19 2006-04-19 Eingangsabfrageleitung für Low-Headroom-Regler

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1847901A1 true EP1847901A1 (de) 2007-10-24

Family

ID=36954255

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06008131A Withdrawn EP1847901A1 (de) 2006-04-19 2006-04-19 Eingangsabfrageleitung für Low-Headroom-Regler

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1847901A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI416298B (zh) * 2010-12-29 2013-11-21 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd 電壓調節電路及具有該電壓調節電路的電源適配器
US9886048B2 (en) 2016-05-04 2018-02-06 Qualcomm Incorporated Headroom control in regulator systems

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58214921A (ja) * 1982-06-09 1983-12-14 Hitachi Ltd 定電圧電源回路
US5631548A (en) * 1995-10-30 1997-05-20 Motorola, Inc. Power off-loading circuit and method for dissipating power
US20020080675A1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2002-06-27 Robert Feurle Voltage regulating circuit, in particular for semiconductor memories
US6765374B1 (en) * 2003-07-10 2004-07-20 System General Corp. Low drop-out regulator and an pole-zero cancellation method for the same

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58214921A (ja) * 1982-06-09 1983-12-14 Hitachi Ltd 定電圧電源回路
US5631548A (en) * 1995-10-30 1997-05-20 Motorola, Inc. Power off-loading circuit and method for dissipating power
US20020080675A1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2002-06-27 Robert Feurle Voltage regulating circuit, in particular for semiconductor memories
US6765374B1 (en) * 2003-07-10 2004-07-20 System General Corp. Low drop-out regulator and an pole-zero cancellation method for the same

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 008, no. 068 (P - 264) 30 March 1984 (1984-03-30) *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI416298B (zh) * 2010-12-29 2013-11-21 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd 電壓調節電路及具有該電壓調節電路的電源適配器
US9886048B2 (en) 2016-05-04 2018-02-06 Qualcomm Incorporated Headroom control in regulator systems
CN109074111A (zh) * 2016-05-04 2018-12-21 高通股份有限公司 调节器系统中的净空控制

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