Voltage regulator with cotrol of switching elements

Abstract

A regulator comprises an output terminal producing a regulated output voltage, a first comparator, a second comparator, a first sourcing circuit coupled to the output terminal, and a first sinking circuit coupled to the output terminal. The first comparator compares a feedback signal representative of the output voltage and a first sourcing reference signal that is less than a reference signal. The second comparator compares the feedback signal and a first sinking reference signal that is greater than the reference signal. The first sourcing circuit is configured to be responsive to the first comparator by sourcing a first current to the output terminal. The first sinking circuit is configured to be responsive to the second comparator by sinking a second current from the output terminal.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A regulator for regulating an input voltage to a regulated output voltage, said regulator comprising:
 a sourcing switch and a sinking switch coupled in series, wherein said sourcing switch is coupled between an input terminal for receiving said input voltage and an output terminal for generating said regulated output voltage, and wherein said sinking switch is coupled between said output terminal and ground;   a first comparator for receiving a feedback signal indicative of said regulated output voltage at said output terminal and for receiving a sourcing reference signal, and for generating a first control signal to control said sourcing switch; and   a second comparator for receiving said feedback signal and a sinking reference signal that is greater than said sourcing reference signal, and for generating a second control signal to control said sinking switch.   
   
   
       22 . The regulator of  claim 21 , wherein said sourcing switch is only fully on or fully off, and wherein said sinking switch is only fully on or fully off. 
   
   
       23 . The regulator of  claim 21 , wherein said sourcing switch is fully on so as to allow a current to flow from said input terminal to said output terminal if said sourcing switch receives said first control signal. 
   
   
       24 . The regulator of  claim 21 , wherein said sinking switch is fully on so as to allow a current to flow from said output terminal to ground if said sinking switch receives said second control signal. 
   
   
       25 . The regulator of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a first voltage source coupled between a main reference terminal and said first comparator for generating a first offset voltage.   
   
   
       26 . The regulator of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a second voltage source coupled between said main reference terminal and said second comparator for generating a second offset voltage.   
   
   
       27 . The regulator of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a capacitor coupled between said output terminal and ground for smoothing said regulated output voltage at said output terminal.   
   
   
       28 . A method for converting an input voltage to a regulated output voltage, said method comprising:
 comparing a feedback signal indicative of said regulated output voltage at an output terminal with a sourcing reference signal;   generating a first control signal according to a comparison of said feedback signal and said sourcing reference signal;   controlling a sourcing switch coupled between an input terminal receiving said input voltage and said output terminal by said first control signal;   comparing said feedback signal with a sinking reference signal that is greater than said sourcing reference signal;   generating a second control signal according to a comparison of said feedback signal and said sinking reference signal; and   controlling a sinking switch coupled between said output terminal and ground by said second control signal.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said sourcing switch is only fully on or fully off, and wherein said sinking switch is only fully on or fully off. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 switching on said sourcing switch so as to allow a current to flow from said input terminal to said output terminal if said sourcing switch receives said first control signal.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 switching on said sinking switch so as to allow a current to flow from said output terminal to ground if said sinking switch receives said second control signal.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 generating a first offset voltage by a first voltage source coupled between a main reference terminal and said first comparator; and   generating a second offset voltage by a second voltage source coupled between said main reference terminal and said second comparator.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 smoothing said regulated output voltage at said output terminal.   
   
   
       34 . A regulator for regulating an input voltage to a regulated output voltage, said regulator comprising:
 a plurality of sourcing switches coupled between an input terminal for receiving said input voltage and an output terminal for generating said regulated output voltage;   a plurality of sinking switches coupled between said output terminal and ground;   a first plurality of comparators for receiving a feedback signal indicative of said regulated output voltage at said output terminal and for receiving a plurality of sourcing reference signals respectively, and for generating a first plurality of control signals to control said sourcing switches respectively; and   a second plurality of comparators for receiving said feedback signal and a plurality of sinking reference signals respectively, and for generating a second plurality of control signals to control said sinking switches respectively,   wherein each of said sinking reference signals is greater than each of said sourcing reference signals.   
   
   
       35 . The regulator of  claim 34 , wherein each of said sourcing switches is only fully on or fully off, and wherein each of said sinking switches is only fully on or fully off. 
   
   
       36 . The regulator of  claim 34 , wherein a sourcing switch of said plurality of sourcing switches is fully on so as to allow a current to flow from said input terminal to said output terminal if said sourcing switch receives a corresponding control signal of said first plurality of control signals. 
   
   
       37 . The regulator of  claim 34 , wherein a sinking switch of said plurality of sinking switches is fully on so as to allow a current to flow from said output terminal to ground if said sinking switch receives a corresponding control signal of said second plurality of control signals. 
   
   
       38 . The regulator of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a first plurality of series-coupled voltage sources for generating a first plurality of offset voltages respectively,   wherein said first plurality of series-coupled voltage sources are coupled to said first plurality of comparators respectively.   
   
   
       39 . The regulator of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a second plurality of series-coupled voltage sources for generating a second plurality of offset voltages respectively,   wherein said second plurality of series-coupled voltage sources are coupled to said second plurality of comparators respectively.   
   
   
       40 . The regulator of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a capacitor coupled between said output terminal and ground for smoothing said regulated voltage at said output terminal.