A linear voltage regulator includes a voltage input and a voltage output. The linear voltage regulator includes a buffer having a voltage node, an input node, an output node and a control node and a power transistor having a control node coupled to the output node of the buffer, an input node coupled to the voltage input and an output node coupled to the voltage output. The linear voltage regulator includes a dropout detection module having a control node coupled to the control node of the power transistor, a voltage input node coupled to the voltage input, a voltage output node coupled to the voltage output and an output node. The linear voltage regulator includes a feedforward module having an input node coupled to the output node of the dropout detection module and an output node coupled to the control node of the buffer.

A linear voltage regulator includes a voltage input and a voltage output. The linear voltage regulator includes a buffer having a voltage node, an input node, an output node and a control node and a power transistor having a control node coupled to the output node of the buffer, an input node coupled to the voltage input and an output node coupled to the voltage output. The linear voltage regulator includes a dropout detection module having a control node coupled to the control node of the power transistor, a voltage input node coupled to the voltage input, a voltage output node coupled to the voltage output and an output node. The linear voltage regulator includes a feedforward module having an input node coupled to the output node of the dropout detection module and an output node coupled to the control node of the buffer.

A bias current generator circuit includes a current path and a leakage control circuit. The current path is connected between a supply voltage and a ground level. The current path includes a transistor and a resistor. The transistor has a current channel connected in the current path. The resistor has an upper terminal and a lower terminal connected in the current path, and a well contact to allow a reverse leakage current of the resistor to flow through. The leakage control circuit is connected to the supply voltage. The leakage control circuit includes a driving transistor to provide a driving voltage to the well contact of the resistor, and to allow the reverse leakage current of the resistor to flow into the leakage control circuit.

A voltage regulator that includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a summer, and a transistor is presented. The first amplifier has a first gain and a first frequency bandwidth, and is configured to generate a first voltage output. The second amplifier has a second gain that is lower than the first gain and a second frequency bandwidth that is higher than the first frequency bandwidth, and is configured to generate a second voltage output. The summer is configured to generate a summed voltage output. The transistor is connected to the summer and configured to generate a regulated voltage based on the summed voltage output of the summer.

A voltage regulator that includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, a summer, and a transistor is presented. The first amplifier has a first gain and a first frequency bandwidth, and is configured to generate a first voltage output. The second amplifier has a second gain that is lower than the first gain and a second frequency bandwidth that is higher than the first frequency bandwidth, and is configured to generate a second voltage output. The summer is configured to generate a summed voltage output. The transistor is connected to the summer and configured to generate a regulated voltage based on the summed voltage output of the summer.

A method of operating a driver circuit includes receiving a data signal at a first input of an amplification circuit; amplifying, using the amplification circuit, the data signal to produce an output signal through an output pin; attenuating, using a feedback network, the output signal to produce a feedback signal; coupling the feedback signal to a second input of the amplification circuit; detecting, using a control circuit, a fault condition; and decoupling, responsive to detecting the fault condition, the feedback signal from the second input of the amplification circuit. In some embodiments, the driver circuit transmits a fault condition signal to an electronic control unit of an automobile.

A method of operating a driver circuit includes receiving a data signal at a first input of an amplification circuit; amplifying, using the amplification circuit, the data signal to produce an output signal through an output pin; attenuating, using a feedback network, the output signal to produce a feedback signal; coupling the feedback signal to a second input of the amplification circuit; detecting, using a control circuit, a fault condition; and decoupling, responsive to detecting the fault condition, the feedback signal from the second input of the amplification circuit. In some embodiments, the driver circuit transmits a fault condition signal to an electronic control unit of an automobile.

One or more sampling parameters of an application associated with a downstream voltage regulator may be determined. A power supply rejection ratio (“PSRR”) and a switching frequency of an upstream voltage regulator may be dynamically adjusted based on the sampling parameters of the application associated with the downstream voltage regulator. The sampling parameters may include a noise level and a workload of the selected application.

A low-dropout regulator for low voltage applications includes a buffer circuit being arranged between an output terminal of an error amplifier and a control node of a pass device. The buffer circuit includes a driver having a first transistor being embodied as an NMOS transistor. The output terminal of the error amplifier is coupled to the control node of the first transistor. The control node of the pass device is coupled to an internal node of a first current path including the first transistor. The low-dropout regulator has high load capability, even if an input supply voltage is very low.

A low-dropout regulator for low voltage applications includes a buffer circuit being arranged between an output terminal of an error amplifier and a control node of a pass device. The buffer circuit includes a driver having a first transistor being embodied as an NMOS transistor. The output terminal of the error amplifier is coupled to the control node of the first transistor. The control node of the pass device is coupled to an internal node of a first current path including the first transistor. The low-dropout regulator has high load capability, even if an input supply voltage is very low.