A reference voltage generator includes an input terminal configured to receive an enable signal and an output terminal configured to provide an output signal. A voltage generator circuit is arranged to generate a first output voltage signal, and a pre-settling circuit is arranged to generate a second output voltage. The pre-settling circuit is configured to provide the second output voltage signal at the output terminal in response to the enable signal received at the input terminal, and following a first time period provide the first output voltage at the output terminal.

A reference voltage generator includes an input terminal configured to receive an enable signal and an output terminal configured to provide an output signal. A voltage generator circuit is arranged to generate a first output voltage signal, and a pre-settling circuit is arranged to generate a second output voltage. The pre-settling circuit is configured to provide the second output voltage signal at the output terminal in response to the enable signal received at the input terminal, and following a first time period provide the first output voltage at the output terminal.

A low drop-out voltage regulator includes an error amplifier that generates an amplified error voltage, the error amplifier including a first input for receiving a reference voltage, a second input for receiving a feedback voltage, a bias terminal for receiving an adaptive bias current, and an output. A pass gate providing an output voltage includes a first input connected to a supply voltage and a second input connected to the error amplifier output. A feedback network generating the feedback voltage includes a first terminal connected to the output of the pass gate and a second terminal connected to the second input of the error amplifier. An adaptive bias network providing the adaptive bias current includes a first transistor connected to the bias terminal of the error amplifier, a second transistor connected to the first transistor as a current mirror, and a third transistor connected in parallel with the pass gate.

A low dropout regulator is disclosed. The low dropout regulator includes an amplifier, a first transistor, a second transistor and a switch. When a supply voltage value of the low dropout regulator is less than a supply voltage threshold value, a first path of the switch is selected and a first switch voltage value is transmitted to the first transistor so as to fully conduct the first transistor, and an output voltage value of the low dropout regulator is equal to the supply voltage value. When the supply voltage value is not less than the supply voltage threshold value, a second path of the switch is selected and a second switch voltage value is transmitted to the first transistor so as to turn off the first transistor, and the output voltage value is adjusted by the second transistor and the amplifier.

A controlling circuit for a low-power low dropout regulator includes the low-power low dropout regulator, a current load detector and a bias current circuit. The low-power low dropout regulator has a first transmitting terminal and a second transmitting terminal. The first transmitting terminal is configured to transmit a first voltage, the second transmitting terminal is configured to transmit a second voltage, and the low-power low dropout regulator adjusts a voltage difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. The current load detector detects the first voltage and the second voltage, and compares the reference voltage with the second voltage to generate a detected signal. The bias current circuit generates a bias voltage and a reference current, and the low-power low dropout regulator dynamically adjust a bias current of the low-power low dropout regulator, so that the bias current is positively correlated with the reference current.

A current limiter for selectively limiting a rate of change of current in a DC electrical network may include a first electrical block including an inductive element and a second electrical block including a bidirectional switch. The first electrical block is connected in parallel with the second electrical block between first and second terminals, and the first and second terminals are connectable to the DC electrical network. The bidirectional switch is switchable to: (1) a first mode to permit current flow through the second electrical block in a first current direction and at the same time inhibit current flow through the second electrical block in a second, opposite current direction; and (2) a second mode to permit current flow through the second electrical block in the second current direction and at the same time inhibit current flow through the second electrical block in the first current direction.

A current limiter for selectively limiting a rate of change of current in a DC electrical network may include a first electrical block including an inductive element and a second electrical block including a bidirectional switch. The first electrical block is connected in parallel with the second electrical block between first and second terminals, and the first and second terminals are connectable to the DC electrical network. The bidirectional switch is switchable to: (1) a first mode to permit current flow through the second electrical block in a first current direction and at the same time inhibit current flow through the second electrical block in a second, opposite current direction; and (2) a second mode to permit current flow through the second electrical block in the second current direction and at the same time inhibit current flow through the second electrical block in the first current direction.

According to one embodiment of this disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a voltage regulator configured to produce a regulated voltage, a plurality of current circuits coupled in parallel between an output node and a power node, each of the plurality of current circuits including first and second transistors coupled in series, the first transistor of each of the plurality of current circuits being biased with the regulated voltage, and a control circuit configured to activate the second transistor of selected one or ones of the plurality of current circuits responsive, at least in part, to a voltage at the output node.

A semiconductor device for limiting inrush current in hot-swap applications includes a power transistor and a current sensing circuit. The power transistor has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to receive an input voltage from a power supply, the second terminal is configured to provide an output voltage to a load, the control terminal is configured to receive a control voltage. Under regulation of the control voltage, the output voltage increases gradually towards the input voltage during a startup period and becomes substantially equal to the input voltage in a steady state. The current sensing circuit senses the current flowing through the power transistor and generates a current sensing signal. In order to achieve current balance, the control voltage is adjusted based on the relationship between the current sensing signal and current sensing signals of other semiconductor devices connected in parallel with the semiconductor device.

A circuit arrangement for filtering an electric current, wherein the circuit arrangement is arranged between a power source providing the electric current and a load; and the electric current includes a first current component and a second current component. The circuit arrangement includes a first circuit arranged to receive and filter the first current component, a current control device arranged to receive and regulate the second current component so as to provide a regulated current to the load, and a control circuit arranged to provide a control signal to the current control device so as to control regulation of the second current component. The control circuit is further arranged to detect one or more operation parameters associated with the current control device, and to determine the control signal based on the one or more detected operation parameters.