The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1998
Charles E Hawkes, Cary, NC (US);
Thomas A Jochum, Durham, NC (US);
Intersil Corporation, Palm Bay, FL (US);
Abstract
A linear voltage regulator includes a pass device for supplying current to a load, and an error amplifier for generating a control signal for controlling the pass device for regulating an output voltage at the load. The error amplifier is connected to a first power supply having a first voltage and a second power supply having a second voltage greater than the first voltage. The error amplifier preferably includes an output stage for providing a greater amount of current to the pass device from the first power supply than from the second power supply when the control signal is below a predetermined value, and for providing a greater amount of current to the pass device from the second power supply than the first power supply when the control signal is above the predetermined value. The predetermined value may be slightly above the typical drive or control voltage needed for a bipolar pass device. Accordingly, the linear regulator can provide a relatively large amount of current for a bipolar transistor from primarily the lower voltage power supply, and can provide a higher voltage for a MOSFET from the higher voltage power supply.