Method and apparatus for overshoot and undershoot errors correction in analog low dropout regulators

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dynamically correcting overshoot and undershoot errors in an analog integrated circuit by improving the reaction time (Δt) of the analog integrated circuit. Equivalently, an error correction circuit is disclosed present invention is only activated to reduce overshoot and undershoot errors by increasing the bandwidth of the integrated circuit when either undershoot or overshoot errors are detected.

1 . An error correction circuit for an analog integrated circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, comprising:
 an undershoot correction circuit electrically coupled to detect an undershoot error in said analog integrated circuit, said undershoot correction circuit operable to improve the reaction time of said analog integrated circuit only when said undershoot error is detected at said output terminal; and   an overshoot correction circuit electrically coupled to detect an overshoot error in said analog integrated circuit, said overshoot correction circuit operable to improve the reaction time of said analog integrated circuit only when said overshoot error is detected at said output terminal.   
   
   
       2 . The error correction circuit of  claim 1  wherein said overshoot correction circuit is operable to create an electrical path to compensate said overshoot error as soon as said overshoot error is detected. 
   
   
       3 . The error correction circuit of  claim 1  wherein said overshot correction circuit is activated by changing its electrical characteristics from a high impedance state to a low impedance state, and wherein said undershoot correction circuit is activated by changing its electrical characteristics from a high impedance state to a low impedance state. 
   
   
       4 . The error correction circuit of  claim 1  wherein said undershoot correction circuit further comprises:
 an input stage circuit including an input terminal electrically coupled to detect said undershoot error at said output terminal of said analog integrated circuit;   a differential stage circuit electrically coupled to said input terminal; and   an output stage circuit electrically coupled to said differential stage circuit and to said analog integrated circuit, as soon as said undershoot error is detected, said differential stage circuit and said output stage circuit are activated to generate a corrective signal that improves the reaction time of said analog integrated circuit.   
   
   
       5 . The error correction circuit of  claim 4  wherein said input stage comprises a high speed class AB buffer electrically coupled to a capacitor. 
   
   
       6 . The error correction circuit of  claim 4  wherein said differential stage circuit further comprises:
 a first NMOS transistor electrically coupled to a second NMOS transistor, the gate of said first NMOS transistor is electrically connected to the gate of said second NMOS transistor, the source of said first NMOS transistor electrically coupled to the first terminal of a first resister and to said input stage circuit, the second terminal of said first resistor is electrically coupled to an electrical ground, the source of said second NMOS transistor electrically coupled to the first terminal of a second resistor, the second terminals of said second resistor electrically coupled to said electrical ground; and   a biasing circuitry electrically coupled to said first NMOS transistor and said second NMOS transistor, wherein said biasing circuitry is operable to bias said first NMOS transistor and said second NMOS transistor, the collectors of said first NMOS transistor and said second NMOS transistor electrically coupled to said biasing circuitry and said output stage circuit.   
   
   
       7 . The error correction circuit of  claim 6  wherein said biasing circuitry comprises
 a first current source comprising a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor, the gate of said first PMOS transistor electrically coupled to the gate of said second PMOS transistor, the drain of said first PMOS transistor electrically coupled to the drain of said first NMOS transistor and to said output stage circuit, the drain of said second PMOS transistor electrically coupled the drain of said second NMOS transistor and to its gate, the source of said first PMOS transistor electrically coupled to the source of said second NMOS transistor and to a supply voltage; and   a second current source having a first terminal and a second terminal, said first terminal electrically coupled to said supply voltage;   a third NMOS transistor having the drain electrically coupled to a second terminal of said second current source, the gate of said third NMOS transistor electrically coupled to the drain and to the gates of said first NMOS transistor and said second NMOS transistor, the source of said third NMOS transistor electrically coupled to the first terminal of a third resistor, the second terminal of said third resistor electrically coupled to said electrical ground.   
   
   
       8 . The error correction circuit of  claim 7  wherein said output stage circuit is a PMOS transistor, the gate of said PMOS transistor electrically coupled to the drain of said first NMOS transistor, the drain of said PMOS transistor forming said output terminal and electrically coupled to said analog integrated circuit, and the source electrically coupled to said supply voltage. 
   
   
       9 . The error correction circuit of  claim 1  wherein said overshoot correction circuit further comprises:
 a differential stage circuit electrically coupled to said output terminal of said analog integrated circuit; and   an output stage circuit electrically coupled to said differential stage circuit and to said analog integrated circuit.   
   
   
       10 . The error correction circuit of  claim 9  wherein said differential stage circuit further comprising:
 a first pnp bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to a second pnp bipolar junction transistor, the base of said first pnp bipolar junction transistor is electrically connected to the base of said second pnp bipolar junction transistor, the emitter of said first pnp bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to the first terminal of a resistor, the second terminal of said resistor electrically coupled to said analog integrated circuit, the emitter of said second pnp bipolar junction transistor electrically forming said input terminal and coupled to receive said output signal of said analog integrated circuit; and   biasing circuitry electrically coupled to said first pnp bipolar junction transistor and said second pnp bipolar junction transistor, said biasing circuitry operable to bias said differential stage, the collectors of said first pnp bipolar junction transistor and said second pnp bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to said biasing circuitry.   
   
   
       11 . The error correction circuit of  claim 10  wherein said biasing circuitry comprises:
 a first current source comprising a first npn bipolar junction transistor and a second npn bipolar junction transistor, the base of said first npn bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to the base of said second npn bipolar junction transistor, the collector of said first npn bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to its base and to the collector of said first pnp transistor, the collector of said second npn bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to the collector of said second pnp bipolar junction transistor and to said output stage circuit, the emitter of said first npn bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to the emitter of second npn transistor and to an electrical ground;   a second current source having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal electrically coupled to said electrical ground; and   a third pnp bipolar junction transistor, the collector of said third pnp transistor electrically coupled to its base and to the bases of first pnp, second pnp bipolar junction transistors, and to the second terminal of said second current source, the emitter of said third pnp bipolar junction transistor electrically coupled to the first terminal of said resistor and to the emitter of said first pnp bipolar junction transistor.   
   
   
       12 . The error correction circuit of  claim 11  wherein said output stage circuit comprises an NMOS transistor, the gate of said NMOS transistor electrically coupled to the collector of said second pnp bipolar junction transistor, the drain of said NMOS transistor electrically coupled to said analog integrated circuit and to the emitter of said second pnp bipolar junction transistor, the source of said NMOS transistor electrically coupled to said electrical ground. 
   
   
       13 . The method of correcting overshoot and undershoot problems in an analog integrated circuit comprising:
 sensing for either undershoot or overshoot errors in said analog integrated circuit using an error correction circuit that includes an undershoot correction circuit and an overshoot correction circuit;   whenever either said undershoot error or said overshoot error is detected, generating a corrective signal, otherwise, continuing said sensing for either undershoot or overshoot error; and   using said corrective signal to cause said analog integrated circuit to react immediately so as to substantially reduce said undershoot and overshoot errors.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of biasing said undershoot correction circuit so that said undershoot correction circuit operates in a cutoff state and that said undershoot correction circuit is turned on whenever said undershoot error is detected. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of biasing said overshoot correction circuit so that said overshoot correction circuit operates in a cutoff state and that said overshoot correction circuit is turned on whenever said overshoot error is detected. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of coupling said undershoot correction circuit and said overshoot correction circuit to said analog integrated circuit. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of creating an electrical path to dissipate said overshoot error when said overshoot error is detected. 
   
   
       18 . A low drop-out (LDO) voltage regulator circuit, comprising:
 an error amplifier comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal;   a pass device electrically coupled in series to said output terminal of said error amplifier for receiving a corrective signal from said error amplifier; and   an error correction circuit further comprising an undershoot correction circuit electrically coupled to detect an undershoot error in an output signal of said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit, said undershoot correction circuit operable to substantially reduce said undershoot error by improving the reaction time of said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit, wherein as soon as said undershoot error is detected, said undershoot correction circuit is activated and operable to immediately cause said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit to start compensating for said output signal; and   an overshoot correction circuit electrically coupled to detect an overshoot error in said output signal, said overshoot correction circuit operable to substantially reduce said overshoot error by improving the reaction time of said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit, wherein as soon as said overshoot error is detected, said undershoot correction circuit is activated and operable to immediately prevent said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit from compensating for said output signal.   
   
   
       19 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 18  wherein said undershoot correction circuit is in a cutoff state when said undershoot error is not detected and when said undershoot error is detected, said undershoot correction circuit is activated and operable to cause said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit to start compensating for said output signal so that said undershoot error is substantially reduced, said undershoot error correction further comprises:
 an input stage circuit including an input terminal electrically coupled to detect said undershoot error;   a differential stage circuit electrically coupled to said input terminal; and   an output stage circuit electrically coupled to said differential stage circuit and to said error amplifier.   
   
   
       20 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 18  wherein said overshoot correction circuit is in a cutoff state when said overshoot error is not detected and wherein when said overshoot error is detected, said undershoot correction circuit is turned on and operable to cause said error amplifier to stop compensating for said output signal, said overshoot correction circuit further comprising:
 a differential stage circuit electrically coupled to detect said overshoot error in said low drop-out voltage regulator circuit; and   an output stage circuit electrically coupled to said differential stage and to said error amplifier.   
   
   
       21 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 18  wherein said pass device is a power transistor further comprises a gate terminal, a source terminal, and a drain terminal, said gate terminal electrically coupled to said output terminal of said error amplifier and said drain terminal electrically coupled to receive said corrective signal from said error amplifier. 
   
   
       22 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 18  further comprising a divider network electrically coupled to said output terminal of said error amplifier and said pass device. 
   
   
       23 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 18  wherein said error amplifier is a low input offset error amplifier that further comprises:
 an input differential stage;   a gain stage electrically coupled to said input differential stage, said gain stage further comprises a cascode circuit electrically coupled to an operational amplifier (op-amp) circuit; and   an output stage electrically coupled to said op-amp circuit.   
   
   
       24 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 23  wherein said op-amp circuit further comprises a differential pair electrically coupled to a plurality of current mirrors, and wherein said op-amp circuit and said cascode circuit forms a common mode feedback loop and wherein said op-amp circuit provides a common mode bias to said cascode circuit. 
   
   
       25 . The low drop-out voltage regulator circuit of  claim 18  wherein said cascode circuit further comprises a first cascode transistor and a second cascode transistor electrically coupled together and to said input differential stage to form a folded cascode differential pair,