Voltage regulator with separately selectable output stage units and method of configuring the same
In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a voltage regulator is provided, comprising: a core and an output stage configured to be coupled to the core, wherein said output stage comprises a set of output stage units; a switch unit comprising a plurality of controllable switches, wherein said controllable switches are configured to couple subsets of the set of output stage units to the core. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of configuring a voltage regulator is conceived.
1 . A voltage regulator, comprising:
a core and an output stage configured to be coupled to the core, wherein said output stage comprises a set of output stage units;
a switch unit comprising a plurality of controllable switches, wherein each controllable switch is configured to couple a corresponding subset of the set of output stage units to the core; and
a programmable compensation network coupled to the output stage and configured to adjust based on a number of output stage units of the set of output stage units that are coupled to the core by the switch unit.
2 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said subsets comprises a single output stage unit.
3 . The voltage regulator of claim 2 , wherein at least one of said subsets comprises multiple output stage units.
4 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein each output stage unit comprises an output transistor and a quiescent transistor coupled in series.
5 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the programmable compensation network comprises at least one of: a variable resistor or a variable capacitor.
6 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the switch unit is configured to be controlled such that subsets of output stage units are coupled to the core in dependence on an operating mode of an integrated circuit in which the voltage regulator is used.
7 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the switch unit is configured to be controlled such that different numbers of output stage units are coupled to the core for each one of a plurality of different operating modes of an integrated circuit in which the voltage regulator is used.
8 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein each of the subsets comprises a predefined, fixed number of output stage units.
9 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , wherein the output stage units are grouped into the subsets according to a binary weighted scheme.
10 . The voltage regulator of claim 1 , being a low-dropout voltage regulator.
11 . A method of configuring a voltage regulator, the method comprising:
providing the voltage regulator with a core;
providing the voltage regulator with an output stage configured to be coupled to the core, wherein said output stage comprises a set of output stage units;
providing the voltage regulator with a switch unit, wherein the switch unit comprises a plurality of controllable switches, and wherein each controllable switch is configured to couple a corresponding subset of the set of output stage units to the core; and
providing the voltage regulator with a programmable compensation network coupled to the output stage and configured to adjust based on a number of output stage units of the set of output stage units that are coupled to the core by the switch unit.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the switch unit is configured to be controlled such that the subsets of output stage units are coupled to the core according to one of a binary weighted scheme or an operating mode of an integrated circuit in which the voltage regulator is used.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of said subsets comprises a single output stage unit.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of said subsets comprises multiple output stage units.
15 . An integrated circuit, comprising:
a voltage regulator comprising:
a core and an output stage configured to be coupled to the core, wherein said output stage comprises a set of output stage units; and
a switch unit comprising a plurality of controllable switches, wherein each controllable switch is configured to couple a corresponding subset of the set of output stage units to the core; and
a programmable compensation network coupled to the output stage and configured to adjust based on a number of output stage units of the set of output stage units that are coupled to the core by the switch unit.
16 . The integrated circuit of claim 15 , wherein the programmable compensation network comprises at least one of: a variable resistor or a variable capacitor.
17 . The integrated circuit of claim 15 , wherein the switch unit is configured to be controlled such that the subsets of output stage units are coupled to the core according to one of a binary weighted scheme or an operating mode of the integrated circuit in which the voltage regulator is used.
18 . The integrated circuit of claim 15 , wherein the switch unit is configured to be controlled such that one or more selected output stage units are coupled to the core for each one of a plurality of different operating modes of the integrated circuit in which the voltage regulator is used.
19 . The integrated circuit of claim 15 , wherein each output stage unit comprises an output transistor and a quiescent transistor coupled in series.