Voltage regulator
View Patent ↗Provided is a voltage regulator configured to suppress a variation of an output voltage so as to stably operate even when a power supply voltage varies. The voltage regulator includes a control circuit having an input terminal connected to a drain of an output transistor, and an output terminal connected to an error amplifier circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause a boost current to flow through an error amplifier circuit when the output voltage varies beyond a predetermined value.
1. A voltage regulator configured to stabilize a power supply voltage input from a power supply terminal and to output the stabilized power supply voltage, the voltage regulator comprising:
an output transistor configured to output an output voltage;
an error amplifier circuit configured to amplify a difference between a reference voltage and a divided voltage obtained by dividing the output voltage and to output the amplified difference, thereby controlling a gate of the output transistor; and
a control circuit including an input terminal connected to a drain of the output transistor, and an output terminal connected to the error amplifier circuit, the control circuit being configured to cause a boost current to flow through the error amplifier circuit when the output voltage varies beyond a predetermined value.
2. A voltage regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises:
a capacitor that includes one terminal connected to an output terminal of the voltage regulator, and is configured to detect a variation of the output voltage;
a first transistor configured to cause the boost current to flow through the error amplifier circuit;
a second transistor including a gate and a drain both connected to a gate of the first transistor and another terminal of the capacitor;
a first constant current circuit configured to clamp the gate of the first transistor; and
a second constant current circuit connected to the another terminal of the capacitor and the gate and the drain of the second transistor.
3. A voltage regulator according to claim 2 , wherein the first constant current circuit causes a current to flow, which is larger than a current caused to flow by the second constant current circuit.
4. A voltage regulator according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a third transistor that is connected between the error amplifier circuit and the first transistor, and is configured to limit the boost current to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.
5. A voltage regulator according to claim 3 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a third transistor that is connected between the error amplifier circuit and the first transistor, and is configured to limit the boost current to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.