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:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1999
Satoshi Takashima, Hyogo, JP;
Makoto Kojima, Osaka, JP;
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An internal step-down converter includes a potential difference detector and a cross-coupled amplifier. The potential difference detector detects and amplifies a potential difference between a reference voltage VREF and an internally-stepped-down supply voltage VINT. The cross-coupled amplifier receives the amplified output VDRV2 of the potential difference detector and the output VDRV of a current-mirror differential amplifier, which is applied as a control voltage to a driver implemented as a p-channel MOSFET. The cross-coupled amplifier regulates the amplitude of the control voltage VDRV substantially at the potential difference .vertline.VDD-VSS.vertline. between the external supply voltages. As a result, the load-current-handling capability of the driver can be considerably increased. While the load current ILOAD is relatively small, a control signal generator deactivates the potential difference detector and the cross-coupled amplifier to prevent the current from being consumed in vain. Accordingly, an internal step-down converter with enhanced load-current-handling capability is provided without increasing the layout area or the current consumed.