Ultra Low Power Regulator
A power regulator with minimized power consumption is disclosed. The power regulator includes at least one multiplier module and at least one amplifier module. The multiplier module is configured to multiply the reference voltage to provide a second voltage, while the amplifier module is configured to receive the second voltage and provide a regulated voltage. The magnitude of the second voltage is greater than the magnitude of the reference voltage by a factor greater than one.
1 . A power regulator with minimized power consumption, comprising:
at least one multiplier module configured to receive a reference voltage and multiply the reference voltage to provide a second voltage; and
at least one amplifier module configured to receive the second voltage and provide a regulated voltage.
2 . The power regulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one switch element configured to selectively sample the reference voltage and provide a sampled reference voltage to the multiplier module.
3 . The power regulator of claim 2 , wherein the switch element is configured to sample and hold the reference voltage.
4 . The power regulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a resistive element and a capacitive element at an input thereof.
5 . The power regulator of claim 1 further comprising at least one reference module configured to at least partially generate the reference voltage across at least one of a resistive element and a capacitive element.
6 . The power regulator of claim 1 further comprising a reference module that is configured as a current source.
7 . The power regulator of claim 1 further comprising a reference module that is configured as a voltage source.
8 . The power regulator of claim 1 further comprising a reference module that is configured to provide a sampled reference voltage.
9 . The power regulator of claim 1 , wherein the multiplier module includes a voltage doubler, the second voltage being double a magnitude of the reference voltage.
10 . The power regulator of claim 1 , wherein the multiplier module is configured to increase a magnitude of the reference voltage by a factor greater than one.
11 . The power regulator of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier module includes a unity gain amplifier.
12 . The power regulator of claim 11 , wherein the second voltage is input to a positive input of the unity gain amplifier and the regulated voltage is fed back into a negative input of the unity gain amplifier.
13 . A method of regulating power with minimized power consumption, comprising the steps of:
providing a reference voltage;
multiplying the reference voltage by a predefined factor so as to provide a second voltage; and
regulating the second voltage to provide a regulated voltage.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a magnitude of the second voltage is greater than a magnitude of the reference voltage by a factor greater than one.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the reference voltage is sampled.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the reference voltage is sampled and temporarily held.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the reference voltage is provided across at least one of a resistive element and a capacitive element.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second voltage is regulated using a unity gain amplifier configured to down-regulate the second voltage so as to provide a regulated voltage that substantially matches a magnitude of the reference voltage.