Robust sink/source output stage and control circuit

• Main Authors: Kronmueller, Frank, Bhattad, Ambreesh
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 19.12.2018
• Subjects: AMPLIFIERS; BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; CONTROLLING; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES

The present document relates to multi-stage amplifiers, such as linear regulators or linear voltage regulators (e.g. low-dropout regulators), configured to provide a constant output voltage subject to load transients. A multi-stage amplifier (200) is described. The multi-stage amplifier (200) comprises a first amplification stage (260, 261) configured to activate or to deactivate a first output stage (270, 271, 201) in response to an input voltage at an input node (255). The first output stage (270, 271, 201) is configured to source a current at an output node (301) of the multi-stage amplifier (200) from a high potential (302), when activated. Furthermore, the multi-stage amplifier (200) comprises a second amplification stage (400, 401) configured to activate or to deactivate a second output stage (410, 411, 412) in response to the input voltage at the input node (255). The second output stage (410, 411, 412) is configured to sink a current at the output node (301) of the multi-stage amplifier (200) to a low potential (303), when activated. The first amplification stage (260, 261) and the second amplification stage (400, 401) are configured to activate the first output stage (270, 271, 201) and the second output stage (410, 411, 412) in a mutually exclusive manner.