Abstract:
A constant voltage circuit robust to the input voltage lowering is disclosed. The invention is applied to a constant voltage circuit fed with an input voltage through first and second power conductors for transferring the input voltage to a load as an output voltage through an output transistor. An inventive constant voltage circuit is provided with a substitute circuit, responsive to a detection of the lowing of the input voltage to a predetermined voltage, for providing a substitute output path that is connected in parallel with the output transistor. Doing this minimize the degree of lowering of the second voltage due to the lowering of said first voltage. The output transistor may be nay of NPN and PNP transistors and P-type and N-type MOS FETs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to a constant voltage circuit supplied with an input voltage from a primary power supply such as a battery for providing an output voltage more stable than the input voltage.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    In motor vehicles for example, various electric loads such as a starter motor, a horn, lights and so on are conventionally connected to a DC power supply or battery. Turning on or off such a load sometimes causes a sudden change of more than a few voltages in the supply voltage (i.e., the battery voltage). This is especially true when an engine of a vehicle the battery of which has experienced a secular deterioration is started under a low temperature. Since electric power is not supplied from the alternator to the battery and the voltage of the battery is lowered in such a case, driving the starter motor will cause the voltage of the power supply to the ECU (electronic control unit) for engine control to lower so extremely that the ECU can not work, preventing the engine from start.  
           [0005]    For this reason, it is required to reduce the minimum operating voltage of ECU in order to prevent such problems. The reduction of the minimum operating voltage is required not only to the ECU but also to control devices used under the circumstances in which the power supply voltage is apt to change: e.g., other control devices for vehicle-mounted air conditioner and automatic transmission, control units used in portable devices with a built-in battery, etc.  
           [0006]    In such control devices or units, in addition to setting the minimum operating voltage low in each of functional circuits constituting the control device or unit, there is provide a constant voltage circuit which is supplied with electric power from an external DC power supply and generating a predetermined constant voltage in order to prevent the functional circuits from malfunctioning with a sudden change in the power supply voltage. The constant voltage circuit supplies power to each functional circuit.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary arrangement of a type of conventional constant voltage circuits. In FIG. 1, the CV circuit  1  is supplied with a DC voltage Vb from an external DC supply such as a battery (not shown) from a power feeder line and a ground line. The CV circuit  1  comprises a bias circuit  20   a  and an output bipolar transistor Q 1   a  of NPN type having its base connected to the output of the bias circuit  20   a , its collector connected to the power feeder line (or Vb line) and its emitter connected to the load (not shown). The CV circuit  1  is so arranged as to transfer the input voltage Vb to the load as an output voltage Vo through the output transistor Q 1   a . (In CV circuits with a bipolar output transistor or CV circuits of type I, the portion other than the output bipolar transistor can be considered as a bias circuit for the output transistor.) The bias circuit  20   a  comprises a constant current circuit  210  for providing a constant current based on the input voltage Vb, a PNP-type transistor Q 21  having its base connected to the constant current circuit  210  output, its emitter connected to the Vb line and its collector connected to the base of the output transistor Q 1   a , and seven serially coupled diodes D 1  through D 7  having their anode end connected to the collector of transistor Q 21  and the base of the output transistor Q 1   a  and their cathode end connected to ground. Since the seven diodes D 1  through D 7  function as a clamp circuit for limiting the base voltage of transistor Q 1   a  to a clamp voltage equal to the voltage across the seven diodes in the easy flow direction (i.e., 7×0.7=4.9 V in this example), even when the battery voltage Vb becomes high, the output voltage Vo of the CV circuit  1  is limited to a constant voltage; i.e., the difference by subtracting the base-to-emitter voltage Vf(=0.7 V) of transistor Q 1   a  from the clamp voltage (i.e., 4.2 V in this example).  
           [0008]    If the battery voltage Vb is in such a range as not to activate the diodes Dl through D 7 , i.e., the battery voltage Vb is less than 5(=Vec 1 +7×0.7), then the output voltage Vo is given by Vb−Vec 1 −Vf(=Vb−0.8) V. Assuming that the minimum voltage required by the load is Vreq, then the input DC voltage or battery voltage has to be not less than Vreq+Vec 1 +Vf. In other words, the control device including the CV circuit  1  and such the load has a minimum operating voltage of Vreq+Vec 1 +Vf. In this sense, the voltage drop (Vec 1 +Vf) in the constant voltage circuit is one of the causes of raising the minimum operating voltage of control devices. The voltage drop in the constant voltage circuit becomes critical with the lowering of the input voltage Vb.  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of another type of conventional constant voltage circuits which has an output MOS FET (metaloxide semiconductor field-effect transistor). In FIG. 2, N-channel MOS FET Q 1   b  has its drain connected to the power supply Vb line and its source connected to the load (not shown). The CV circuit  2  further comprises a bias circuit  20   b  or voltage booster  202  having its output connected to the gate of MOS FET Q 1   b . When the voltage booster  202  is generating a voltage sufficiently higher than the input or battery voltage Vb, MOS FET Q 1   b  operates in a linear region or on state. In this state (referred to as “the completely-on state”), the source-to-drain voltage of MOS FET Q 1   b  is substantially zero, which causes the input voltage Vb to be supplied as it is to the load. Since the drain loss is small and, accordingly, less heat is generated, the completely-on state is a preferable state for the output MOS FET.  
           [0010]    On the other hand, as the voltage booster  202  output or the gate voltage lowers with the lowering of the input voltage Vb, MOS FET Q 1   b  eventually enters into a saturation state. In the saturation state, the drain current decreases and the source-to-drain voltage rises with the gate voltage lowering. In this state (referred to as an “incompletely-on state”), the drain loss is larger and, accordingly, more heat is generated, which is an undesirable state for the output MOS FET. In this way, an input voltage lower than the minimum operating voltage of the voltage booster  202  can cause a sudden lowering of the output voltage Vo of the CV circuit  2 . (Though the above discussion has been presented in conjunction with a CV circuit having an N-channel MOS FET as the output transistor, the same discussion is applied to a CV circuit having a P-channel MOS FET as the output transistor. CV circuits with an output MOS FET is referred to as “CV circuits of type II”) As seen from the foregoing, there is a need for a constant voltage circuit robust to the input voltage lowering, i.e., a constant voltage circuit in which the output voltage lowers as little as possible with a lowering of the input voltage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The above and other problems has been solved in accordance with the present invention which relates to a constant voltage circuit fed with a first voltage through first and second power conductors for supplying a second voltage to a load. A constant voltage circuit comprises an output transistor having a control electrode and having first and second channel electrodes constituting a primary output path to the load. The output transistor has the first channel electrode connected with one of the power conductors, the second channel electrode connected with one end of the load. The other end of the load is connected to the other power conductor that is not connected to the first channel electrode. The constant voltage circuit further comprises a bias circuit for providing a bias voltage to the control electrode to turn on the output transistor and a substitute circuit, responsive to a detection of the lowing of the first voltage to a predetermined voltage, for providing a secondary output path that is connected in parallel with the primary output path. Doing this minimizes the degree of lowering of the second voltage due to the lowering of said first voltage.  
           [0012]    The output transistor may be nay of NPN and PNP transistors and P-type and N-type MOS FETs. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0013]    The features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams showing exemplary arrangements of two types of conventional constant voltage circuits;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing the basic concepts of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of a CV circuit, of type I shown in FIG. 1, which the present invention is has been applied to;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the details of a CV circuit of type I in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary modification of the CV circuit of FIG. 6;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a graph showing an input-to-output characteristic for the CV circuits  6  and  6   a  of FIGS. 6 and 7;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing exemplary modifications of the CV circuit of FIG. 7;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a graph showing an input-to-output characteristic for the CV circuits  6   b  and  6   c  of FIGS. 9A and 9B;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an exemplary modification of the CV circuit  6   c  of FIG. 9B;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a graph showing an input-to-output characteristic for the CV circuits  6   d  of FIG. 11;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing exemplary modifications  6   e  and  6   f  of the CV circuit  6   c  of FIG. 9B, wherein modification  6   e  involves a problem, which has been settled in modification  6   f;    
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 14A and 14B are graphs showing input-to-output characteristics for the CV circuits  6   e  and  6   f , respectively;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of a CV circuit of type II which uses N-type MOSFET as an output transistor Q 1   b  in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing exemplary switching circuits usable in the CV circuit  5  of FIG. 15;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing the output signals Ea and Eb of a controller circuit  261  shown in FIG. 15;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing graphs to illustrating the effect of the CV circuit  5  of FIG. 15;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another exemplary low Vb detector substitutable for that  560  of FIG. 15;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another exemplary bias circuit substitutable for that  250  of FIG. 15; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of a CV circuit of type II which uses P-type MOSFET as an output transistor Q 1   b  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
       [0033]    Throughout the drawing, the same elements when shown in more than one figure are designated by the same reference numerals.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing the basic concepts of the invention. The present invention is applicable to a constant voltage circuit which comprises an output transistor Q 1  for transferring the input voltage Vb to the load connected thereto as an output voltage Vo through the current path provided by the terminals T 1  and T 2  thereof and a bias circuit  20  for providing the bias voltage to the control gate of the output transistor Q 1  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The load (not shown) may be connected to either between the T 2  terminal of the transistor Q 1  and the lower-potential side (labeled with a symbol “−” and referred to as “the NPS line”) of the input voltage lines as shown in FIG. 3 or between the higher-potential side (labeled with a symbol “+” and referred to as “the PPS line”) of the input voltage lines and the Ti terminal of the transistor Q 1  as shown in FIG. 4. The output transistor Q 1  may be either a bipolar (in case of a CV circuit of type I) or a MOS FET (in case of a CV circuit of type II).  
         [0035]    According to the invention, a constant voltage (CV) circuit  3  or  4  further comprises a substitute circuit  50  or  50   a  for providing a substitute power feeder path which substitutes for the current path through terminals T 1  and T 2  of the output transistor Q 1  if the input voltage Vb lowers to a predetermined level.  
         [0036]    In FIG. 3, the substitute circuit  50  comprises a second output transistor Q 2  of PNP type having its emitter connected to the PPS line and its collector connected to the T 2  terminal of transistor Q 1  and the load. The circuit  50   a  further comprises a low Vb detector  502  having its output connected to the base of the second output transistor Q 2 . As long as the input voltage Vb is not lower than a predetermined level, the low Vb detector  502  provides a higher level output to keep the transistor Q 2  off. In this case, the input voltage Vb is transferred to the not-shown load as an output voltage Vo through transistor Q 1 . If the input voltage Vb becomes lower than a predetermined level, then the low Vb detector  502  makes its output level low (preferably as low as the NPS line), which causes the transistor Q 2  to turn on to provide a substitute power feeder path indicated by bold lines through transistor Q 2 . Since the emitter-to-collector voltage Vec 2  is typically 0.1 V, the output voltage Vo equal to the input voltage Vb minus only 0.1 V is supplied to the load through the substitute power feeder path.  
         [0037]    In FIG. 4, the substitute circuit  50   a  comprises a second output transistor Q 2   a  of NPN type having its emitter connected to the NPS line and its collector connected to the T 1  terminal of transistor Q 1  and the load. The circuit  50   a  further comprises a low Vb detector  502   a  having its output connected to the base of the second output transistor Q 2   a . As long as the input voltage Vb is not lower than a predetermined level, the low Vb detector  502   a  provides a low level output to keep the transistor Q 2  off. In this case, the input voltage Vb is transferred to the not-shown load as an output voltage Vo through transistor Q 1 . If the input voltage Vb becomes lower than a predetermined level, then the low Vb detector  502   a  makes its output level high, which causes the transistor Q 2  to turn on to provide a substitute power feeder path indicated by the bold lines through transistor Q 2   a . Again, the output voltage Vo equal to the input voltage Vb minus only 0.1 V is supplied to the load through the substitute power feeder path.  
         [0038]    Applying the above-described concept of the invention shown in FIG.  3  to the CV circuit  1  of type I shown in FIG. 1, we obtain a CV circuit of FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the bias circuit  20   a  has been replaced with a circuit  200 , and the substitute circuit  50  has been replaced with a circuit  500 . FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the details of a CV circuit of type I in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 5. The CV circuit  6  of FIG. 6 is usually built in an integrated circuit constituting a vehicle-mounted electronic control unit such as an engine ECU. The CV circuit  6  is supplied with a power from a vehicle-mounted battery (or a DC power supply).  
         [0039]    In FIG. 6, the constant current circuit  210  comprises PNP-type transistors Q 20  and Q 22  having their emitters connected to the PPS line and their bases connected with each other; a resistor R 20  connected between the PPS line and the collector of Q 20 ; a PNP transistor Q 23  having its base connected to the collector of Q 22  and its collector connected to the NPS line; a resistor R 21  connected between the emitter of Q 23  and the node between the bases of Q 20  and Q 22 ; an NPN transistor Q 24  having its collector connected to the base of Q 23  and the collector of Q 22 ; an NPN transistor Q 25  having its emitter connected to the NPS line, its collector connected to the collector of Q 20 , the base of Q 24  and one end of resistor R 20 ; and a resistor R 22  having its one end connected to the NPS line and the other end connected to the emitter of Q 24  and the base of Q 25 .  
         [0040]    The low Vb detector  510  comprises a PNP transistor Q 50  having its emitter connected to the PPS line and its base connected to the bases of PNP transistors Q 20  through Q 22  to constitute a current mirror which makes transistor Q 20  primary; a PNP transistor Q 51  having its base connected to the node between diodes D 4  and D 5  and its collector connected to the NPS line; a PNP transistor Q 52  having its emitter connected to the collector of Q 50  and the emitter of Q 51 ; resistors R 50  and R 51  having their one ends connected together to the base of Q 52  having the other ends connected to the PPS and NPS lines, respectively; an NPN transistor Q 53  having its emitter connected to the NPS line; an NPN transistor Q 54  having its emitter connected to the NPS line and its base connected with the collector of Q 52  and the base and the collector of Q 53  into a single node; and a resistor R 52  having its one end connected to the PPS line and the other end connected to the collector of Q 54  to form the output node of the low Vb detector  510 , which node is further connected to the base of the output transistor Q 2  of the substitute circuit  500 .  
         [0041]    In operation, if an input voltage Vb is supplied to between the PPS and NPS lines and if the input voltage Vb is larger than a minimum voltage required for the operation of transistors Q 24  and  25  (i.e., 2·Vf), then base currents begins to be supplied to transistors Q 24  and Q 25  through resistor R 20  to turn on Q 24  and Q 25 . This causes the transistors Q 20  through Q 22  and Q 50  which constitute a current mirror circuit to conduct respective current. The output voltage Vo is provided between the output node of the collectors of Q 1   a  and Q 2  and the NPS line in a manner described in conjunction with FIG.  
         [0042]    In the low Vb detector  510 , a constant current controlled by the constant current circuit  210  is supplied through the collector of Q 50  to the emitters of transistors Q 51  and Q 52 . In the above-described configuration, one of transistors Q 51  and Q 52  the base voltage of which is lower becomes on. In other words, since the base voltages V 51  of Q 51  is limited to the reference voltage of 3·Vf by diodes D 5  through D 7  and the base voltages V 52  of Q 52  is given as V 52 =Vb·R 51 /(R 50 +R 51 ), if base voltage V 52  is smaller than base voltage V 51 ; i.e., the input voltage Vb is smaller than a predetermined voltage of 3·Vf·(R 50 +R 51 )/R 51 , then transistor Q 52  is in the on state, while transistor Q 51  is in the off state (low Vb operation). Otherwise, transistor Q 52  is in the off state, while transistor Q 51  is in the on state (normal Vb operation).  
         [0043]    In normal Vb operation or in case of transistor Q 51  being on, the current supplied from transistor Q 50  flows through Q 51  to ground or the NPS line. This causes transistors Q 53 , Q 54  and Q 2  to become off. Accordingly, the substitute power feeder path which runs through transistor Q 2  as shown in bold lines in FIG. 3 is not formed.  
         [0044]    In low Vb operation or in case of transistor Q 52  being on, the current supplied from transistor Q 50  flows through transistors Q 52  and Q 53 , which turns transistors Q 54  and Q 2 . Since transistor Q 2  is turned on, the substitute power feeder path which runs through transistor Q 2  is formed as shown in bold lines in FIG. 3.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 8 is an input-to-output voltage characteristic curve which shows how the CV circuit  6  (and a CV circuit  6   a  to be described later) operates. The abscissa indicates the input or battery voltage Vb and the ordinate indicates the output voltage Vo. If the battery voltage Vb is larger than the minimum operation voltage of the constant current circuit  210  (i.e., 2·Vf) and smaller then the above-mentioned predetermined voltage, i.e., 3·Vf (R 50 +R 51 )/R 51 , then, through transistor Q 2 , there is provided the output voltage Vo which equals to the input voltage Vb minus the emitter-to-collector voltage Vec 2  of Q 2 (=Vb−Vec 2 =Vb−0.1 V) as shown in a solid line in FIG. 8. On the other hand, in the prior art as shown in a broken line, the output voltage Vo is limited to a voltage given by Vb−(Vec 1 +Vf), where Vec 1  is the emitter-to-collector voltage of Q 2  and Vf is the base-to-emitter voltage of the output transistor Q 1   a  for an input voltage Vb which is not less than the minimum operation voltage 2·Vf of the constant current circuit  210  and which does not exceed such a voltage as to cause diodes D 1  through D 7  to start clamping the base voltage of the output transistor Q 1   a . That is, a CV circuit  6  according to the invention provides an output voltage higher than that of the prior art by Vf (=0.7) volts in the low Vb operation, i.e., an inventive CV circuit  6  is more robust to a lowering of Vb. Using inventive CV circuits  6  in control devices enables the reduction of the minimum operation voltage of the control devices.  
         [0046]    In the normal Vb operation, in which the input voltage Vb is larger than the predetermined voltage 3·Vf·(R 50 +R 51 )/R 51  and transistor Q 2  is turned off, the constant voltage Vo is output through output transistor Q 1   a  as is the case in the prior art.  
         [0047]    It should be noted that the predetermined voltage 3·Vf·(R 50 +R 51 )/R 51  is preferably set to a value larger than the clamp voltage, i.e. 7·Vf by adjusting the values of resistors R 50  and R 51 . If the predetermined voltage is set smaller than 7·Vf, then, while rising with the increase in the input voltage Vb, the output voltage Vo is suddenly falls to a level on the broken line.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary modification of the CV circuit  6  of FIG. 6. The CV circuit of FIG. 7 is identical to that of FIG. 6 except that the low Vb detector  510  (and, accordingly, the substitute circuit  500 ) has been replaced with a circuit  510   a  (and, accordingly, a circuit  500   a ). Specifically, in the low Vb detector  510   a , the base-to-emitter and collector electrodes of transistor Q 52  have been replaced with the base, collector and emitter electrodes of transistor Q 55 , respectively; transistor Q 53  has been removed; the emitter of Q 55  has been connected to the NPS line; and the base of transistor Q 54  has been connected to the collectors of Q 50  and Q 55 .  
         [0049]    In this configuration, transistor Q 55  turns on when the voltage drop across resistor R 51  reaches Vf as the input voltage Vb increases from a sufficiently low level. Since the voltage drop across resistor R 51  is given by Vb·R 51 /(R 50 +R 51 ), transistor Q 55  is off if the input voltage Vb is lower than a second predetermined voltage Vf·(R 50 +R 51 )/R 51  (in case of low Vb operation) and is on otherwise (in case of normal Vb operation).  
         [0050]    If transistor Q 55  is in the on state (or in case of normal Vb operation), then the current supplied from transistor Q 50  all flows to the NPS line through Q 55 , which causes transistors Q 54  and Q 2  to become off. Accordingly, the substitute power feeder path which runs through transistor Q 2  is not formed.  
         [0051]    If transistor Q 55  is in the off state (or in case of low Vb operation), then the current supplied from transistor Q 50  flows to the NPS line through transistor Q 54 , which causes transistors Q 54  and Q 2  to become on. Accordingly, the substitute power feeder path which runs through transistor Q 2  is formed.  
         [0052]    In this CV circuit  6   a , the second predetermined voltage Vf·(R 50 +R 51 )/R 51  is preferably set to a value larger than the clamp voltage, i.e., 7·Vf by adjusting the values of resistors R 50  and R 51 . By doing this, it is possible to prevent the output voltage Vo from suddenly falling to a level on the broken line and to let the output voltage Vo fall to the clamp level minus Vf as the input voltage Vb rises from a sufficiently low level as shown in FIG. 8.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing exemplary modifications of the CV circuit of FIG. 7. For the sake of the simplicity, the combination of constant current circuit  210  and transistor Q 21  is denoted by a constant current source  220 , and the combination of constant current circuit  210  and transistor Q 50  is denoted by a constant current source  520  in FIGS. 9A and 9B. Taking this into account, it is seen that the CV circuit of FIG. 9A is identical to that of FIG. 7 except that, in FIG. 9A, resistors R 50  and R 51  has been removed; diode D 7  has been replaced with a resistor R 23 ; and the base of transistor Q 55  has been connected to a node between diode D 6  and resistor R 23 . Responsively, the bias circuit, the low Vb detector and the substitute circuit which include R 24  and R 53  have had their element numerals changed from  200 ,  510   a  and  500   a  to  200   a ,  510   b  and  500   b , respectively.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 10 is an input-to-output voltage characteristic curve which shows how the CV circuits  6   b  and  6   c  operate. For the input voltage Vb lower than the minimum operation voltage (2·Vf) of the constant current sources  220  and  520  (i.e., the constant current circuit  210 ), both of output transistor Q 1   a  and transistor Q 54  are in the off state. If the input voltage Vb goes higher from this state to reach the minimum operation voltage, then transistors Q 1   a  and Q 54  turn on. Since the on state of Q 54  causes transistor Q 2  to turn on, the voltages of the collector and the emitter of Q 1   a  becomes substantially equal to each other and accordingly transistor Q 1   a  becomes off. The output voltage Vo substantially equal to the input voltage Vb (specifically, the input voltage Vb minus the emitter-to-collector voltage of Q 2 ; i.e., Vb−0.1 V) is supplied to the load through transistor Q 2 .  
         [0055]    When the base voltage of transistor Q 1   a  reaches the easy-flow direction voltage 6 ÅEVf(=4.2 V) across six diode D 1  through D 6  with the rising of the input voltage Vb, the series circuit leg including diodes D 1  through D 6  and resistor  23  starts to conduct. With the increase in the base voltage of Q 1   a , the voltage across resistor R 23  reaches the base-to-emitter voltage or, in other words, the base voltage of output transistor Q 1   a  becomes the sum of six anode-to-cathode junction voltage and one base-to-emitter voltage drop of Q 55 , which sum is referred to as “clamp voltage” and is equal to 7×Vf(=4.7 V). This causes transistor Q 55  to conduct the current from the constant current source  520  to ground; thereby making transistors Q 54  and Q 2  off. In this state, the output voltage equal to the clamp voltage minus one base-to-emitter voltage drop is supplied to the load through the output transistor Q 1   a  as shown in a broken line in FIG. 10.  
         [0056]    As seen from above, CV circuit  6   b  provides an output voltage one base-to-emitter voltage drop higher than that of the prior art in low Vb (or input) voltage operation. Thus, CV circuit  6   b  has immunity against lowerings in the magnitude of the input power supply voltage.  
         [0057]    Only one difference between CV circuits  6   b  (FIG. 9A) and  6   c  (FIG. 9B) is that the six diodes D 1  through D 6  have been replaced with a Zener diode ZD in CV circuit  6   c  of FIG. 9B (Responsively, the element numeral of the bias circuit has been changed from  200   a  (FIG. 9A) to  200   b  (FIG. 9B)). Therefore, all of the above description can be applied to CV circuit  6   c.    
         [0058]    It is noted that replacing serially connected diodes with a Zener diode having a Zener voltage equal to the sum of the anode-to-cathode junction voltages across the serially connected diodes may be applied to the diodes of FIGS. 5 and 7 and diodes D 1  through D 4  and diodes D 5  through D 7  of FIG. 6.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an exemplary modification of the CV circuit  6   c  of FIG. 9B. Only one difference between CV circuits  6   d  (of FIG. 11) and  6   c  (FIG. 9B) is that the constant current source  220  and  520  have been replaced with resistors R 24  and R 53  in CV circuit  6   d  of FIG. 11. Responsively, the bias circuit, the low Vb detector and the substitute circuit which include R 24  and R 53  have had their element numeral changed from  200   b ,  510   b  and  500   b  to  200   c ,  510   c  and  500   c , respectively.  
         [0060]    The operation of CV circuit  6   d  is also identical to that of CV circuit  6   c  except that since the base electrodes of output transistors Q 1   a  and Q 2  are connected to the input voltage Vb conductor through resistors R 24  and R 53 , respectively, output transistors Q 1   a  and Q 2  can start their operation when the input voltage Vb is equal to or higher than the base-to-emitter voltage Vf. Consequently, if an input voltage Vb is in a range from the base-to-emitter voltage Vf to the clamp voltage (i.e., the sum of the Zener voltage and one base-to-emitter voltage drop), the output voltage is supplied to the load through output transistor Q 2  of the substitute circuit  500   c  as shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing exemplary modifications  6   e  and  6   f  of the CV circuit  6   c  of FIG. 9B. The modification  6   e  is a CV circuit provided with the so-called sleep function, which enables the reduction of power consumption in CV circuit when there is no need of supplying a constant voltage to the external load. In FIG. 13A, CV circuit  6   e  comprises a bias circuit  200   d , the output transistor Q 1   a  for providing the output voltage under the control of the bias voltage from the bias circuit  200   d , and the substitute circuit  500   b  which is the same as that used in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The bias circuit  200   d  differs from the bias circuit  200   b  of FIG. 9B in that the constant current circuit  210  which is thought to be included in the constant current source  220  has been replaced with constant current circuit (CCC)  210   a  in the bias circuit  200   d . Since the portion other than CCC  210   a  has been described above, we only describe CCC  210   a.    
         [0062]    The constant current circuit  210   a  comprises a PNP transistor Q 26  having its emitter pulled up to the PPS conductor and its base connected to its collector and the bases of transistors Q 21  and Q 50  to forming a current mirror circuit; an on/off switch  212  having one end of the switched channel thereof connected to the node including the collector of Q 26  and its control terminal supplied with a control signal Vs; and a constant current source  214  having its anode connected to the other end of the switched channel of the switch  212  and its cathode connected to the NPS conductor. The switch  212  is comprised of; e.g., a switching transistor. The control signal Vs is supplied by a not-shown controller for example.  
         [0063]    If the control signal of high level for example is applied to the control terminal of the switch  212 , the switch  212  provides a current path connecting the collector of Q 26  with the constant current source  214  anode to allowing constant current source  214  to draw a constant current through Q 26  from the PPS conductor. Conversely, applying a low-level control signal to the control terminal of the switch  212  causes switch  212  to disable constant current source  214  to draw the constant current through Q 26  from the PPS conductor.  
         [0064]    Accordingly, applying a high-level control signal to the control terminal of the switch  212  causes CCC  210   a  to supply a constant current to transistors Q 21  and Q 50  as constant current circuit  210  does in FIG. 7 (and in bias circuit  200   b  of FIG. 9B); thereby causing CV circuit  6   e  to operate in the same manner as CV circuit  6   c  of FIG. 9B.  
         [0065]    Conversely, applying a low-level control signal to the control terminal of the switch  212  deactivates transistor Q 26  (i.e., the current source of the current mirror circuit) and, accordingly, or transistors Q 21  and Q 50  (i.e., the current sinks of the current mirror circuit), which in turn deactivates output transistors Q 1   a  and Q 2 . Thus, CV circuit  6   e  enters into a sleep mode in which neither Q 1   a  nor Q 2  provides output voltage Vo. In this sleep mode, all of the elements constituting CV circuit  6   e  conduct no current, which means that the power consumption by CV circuit  6   e  is zero.  
         [0066]    However, this CV circuit  6   e  involves a problem that the output voltage may temporarily jump up to the level of input voltage Vb when the mode is changed from the normal mode in which CV circuit  6   e  normally supplies output voltage Vo to the sleep mode as described in the following.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 14A is a graph showing input-to-output characteristics for CV circuit  6   e . In FIG. 14A, if control signal Vs is changed from high level to low level in a state in which output voltage Vo is so controlled as to be the clamp level minus one base-to-emitter voltage drop (Vf), then the currents I 21  and  150  through transistors Q 21  and Q 50  gradually decrease to zero. In the I 21  and I 50  decreasing process, a falling of I 21  to a threshold level given by Vf/R 23  (Vf is the base-to-emitter voltage of Q 55 ) causes transistor Q 55  to become off, which in turn causes current I 50  to change its course from Q 55  to Q 54 , driving Q 54  to conduct. Thereafter, a further falling of I 50  to a certain threshold level causes transistor Q 54  to become off again.  
         [0068]    Consequently, output voltage Vo jumps up to the input voltage Vb at the time of Q 54  turning-on in the off state of Q 55  and then falls to the NPS level at the time of Q 54  turning-off.  
         [0069]    If output voltage Vo jumps up to the input voltage Vb even for a moment as described above and if the load includes devices of low withstand voltage, then the load may be damaged by the excessive voltage. Also, noises due to the sudden rise in voltage may cause the load to malfunction.  
         [0070]    In order to avoid this problem, a resistor R 53  may be inserted in between the NPS conductor and the node of the base of Q 54  and the collectors of Q 50  and Q 55  as shown in FIG. 13B so that current I 50  can flow through the added resistor R 53 . In this case, the value of R 53  is preferably so set that current I 50  flows through R 53  when Q 55  has turned off and the voltage drop across R 53 (=I 50 ×R 53 ) is lower than a level necessary for turning on transistor Q 54 . In other words, the value of R 53  is preferably so set as to satisfy the relation: I 21 ·R 23 &gt;I 50 ·R 53 . That is, R 53 &lt;(I 21 /I 50 ) R 23 , where I 21 /I 50  is referred to as “collector ratio” of transistors Q 21  and Q 50 . If the collector ratio I 21 /I 50  is denoted as “m”, then R 53  is set to a value smaller than m·R 2 .  
         [0071]    By doing this, it is possible to make an arrangement that the threshold of I 50  to turn on Q 54  is higher than the threshold of I 21  to turn on Q 55 . Since transistor  54  is maintained off even after transistor Q 55  has become off as currents I 21  and I 50  decreases in magnitude, output voltage Vo is prevented from rising to the input voltage Vb as shown in FIG. 14B.  
         [0072]    It is noted that the same sleep function may be added to any of CV circuits  6 ,  6   a  - 6   d  described above by providing the constant current circuit thereof with a switching circuit like  212 . However, only adding a switching circuit  212  to CV circuit of FIG. 9A or  9 B causes the same problem as in case of CV circuit  13 A. It is preferred to also add resistor R 53  in case of CV circuit of FIG. 9A or  9 B.  
         [0073]    The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Thus, many variations are possible.  
         [0074]    For example, only bipolar transistors have been used for the transistors in the above embodiment. However, a part or the whole of transistors may be replaced with MOS FETs.  
         [0075]    Specifically, NPN-type transistor Q 1   a  may be replaced with an N-channel MOS FET with its drain connected to the PPS conductor and with its source connected to the load. In this case, since the threshold voltage to operate an N-channel MOS FET, i.e., the gate-to-source voltage is about 1.0 V, supplying output voltage Vo through the N-channel MOS FET involves a voltage drop more than the threshold voltage. Applying the present invention to a CV circuit which uses an N-channel MOS FET for output transistor Q 1   a  enables output voltage Vo to be raised by about 1.0 V in the low Vb operation.  
         [0076]    Also, PNP-type transistor Q 2  for providing a substitute power feeder path may be replaced with a P or N-channel MOS FET with its source connected to the PPS conductor and with its drain connected to the load. However, if an N-channel MOS FET is to be used, then in order to drive the N-channel FET it is necessary to apply to the gate thereof a voltage higher than input voltage Vb by the threshold voltage. For this purpose, a charge pump is necessary to obtain a higher voltage from input voltage Vb.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of a constant voltage (CV) circuit of type II, which uses N-type MOS FET as an output transistor Q 1   b , in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the invention. The outermost rectangular drawn in a single-dot chain line indicates that the CV circuit  7  is implemented in an integrated circuit (IC) for use in a vehicle. Circuit  7  is supplied with a power supply voltage Vb through IC pins T 1 -T 3 . The ground of circuit  7  is connected to the chassis of the vehicle through IC pin T 5 . The output voltage of the CV circuit  7  is supplied to the load through IC pins T 4  and T 5 .  
         [0078]    Since CV circuit  7  is obtained by applying the concept of the invention shown in FIG. 3 to a CV circuit of type II shown in FIG. 2, we describe CV circuit  7  taking FIGS. 2 and 3 into account. In FIG. 15, the output transistor Qb 1  shown in FIG. 2 has its drain connected to an external battery Vb through IC pin T 3  and its source connected to the not-shown load through IC pin T 4 ; the bias circuit  20   b  has been replaced with a bias circuit  250 ; and the substitute circuit  50  has been replaced with a substitute circuit  550 .  
         [0079]    The bias circuit or voltage booster  250  comprises diodes  251  through  255 , capacitors  256  through  259 ; a controller circuit  261  and a controller power supply  260  for supplying a constant voltage (of 5V for example) to the controller circuit  261 . Specifically, one diode  251  and four serially connected diodes  252  through  255  are parallelly connected to between a power intake conductor  250   a  and an output conductor  250   b  of the bias circuit  250  with their anodes directed to the power intake conductor  250   a . The power intake conductor  250   a  is further connected to the input voltage conductor of the controller power supply  260  and to the external battery Vb through IC pin T 2 . The output conductor  250   b  is further connected to the gate of transistor Q 1   b . Two serially connected capacitors  256  and  258  have their one end connected to the node between diodes  252  and  253  and the other end connected to the node between diodes  254  and  255 . Similarly, two serially connected capacitors  257  and  259  have their one end connected to the node between diodes  253  and  254  and the other end connected to the output conductor  250   b . The two output conductors Ea and Eb of the controller circuit  261  are connected to the node between the serially connected capacitors  256  and  258  and the node between the serially connected capacitors  257  and  259 .  
         [0080]    The substitute circuit  550  comprises the above-described PNP transistor Q 2  shown in FIG. 3; resistor R 1  connected between the base and the collector of transistor Q 2 ; resistor R 2  having its one end connected to the node between R 1  and the base of Q 2 ; and a low Vb detector  560  having its power intake conductor  560   a  connected to the external battery Vb through IC pin T 1  and its output connected to the other end of resistor R 2 . The low Vb detector  560  comprises two serially connected dividing resistors  562  and  564  having resistor  562 &#39;s open end connected to the power intake conductor  560   a  and resistor  564 &#39;s open end connected to ground; a comparator  568  having its noninverting input connected to the node between the resistors  562  and  564  and its output, as the output of the low Vb detector  550 , connected to resistor R 2 ; and a reference voltage (Vref) generator  566  having its anode connected to the inverting input of the comparator  568  and its cathode connected to ground through IC pin T 5 .  
         [0081]    It is noted that though the output conductor  250   b  of the voltage booster  250  is directly connected to the gate of Q 1   b , either of switching circuits  11  and  12  shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B may be inserted between them; thereby ensuring the switching operation of Q 1   b.    
         [0082]    In the bias circuit or voltage booster  250 , the controller power supply  260  generates a constant voltage of 5V from the battery voltage Vb if Vb is more than 5V. On the constant voltage from the power supply  260 , the controller circuit  261  generates two pumping control signals Ea and Eb. The pumping control signals Ea and Eb have predetermined frequency and amplitude, a duty cycle of 50%, and respective phases inverted to each other as shown in FIG. 17. Applying the control signals Ea and Eb to the diode and capacitor network  251  through  259  enables the network  251  through  259  to generate a voltage Vc sufficiently higher than the battery voltage Vb as is well known in the art.  
         [0083]    Generally speaking, the source-to-drain voltage and the drain current, which flows through the load, are determined according to static characteristics of Q 1   b  based on the gate-to-source voltage. A suitable gate-to-source voltage can make the source-to-drain voltage substantially zero in the linear region (i.e., the output voltage Vo of CV circuit  7  is substantially equal to the battery voltage Vb in this state). This state is referred to as “completelyon” state. Assuming that the minimum gate-to-source voltage that can make Q 1   b  in the completely-on state is VT, then it is necessary for the bias circuit  250  to generate a voltage Vc higher than the battery voltage Vb by more than VT.  
         [0084]    However, as the battery voltage Vb decreases, the bias circuit  250  decreases in the output voltage Vc to stop its pumping operation eventually as shown in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, the abscissa indicates the battery voltage in either of upper and lower graphs, the ordinate of the upper graph indicates bias circuit output Vc and the CV circuit  7  output voltage Vo, and the ordinate of the lower graph indicates the CV circuit  7  output voltage Vo.  
         [0085]    We first discuss how a CV circuit with substitute circuit  550  removed from the circuit  7  would operate with variations of the battery voltage Vb. Curves labeled “Gcp” and “Gop” indicates the variations in bias circuit output Vc and CV circuit output Vo, respectively in the upper graph.  
         [0086]    If battery voltage Vb is higher than V 5  (e.g., 5 V), then bias circuit  250  operates normally and generates a voltage Vc higher than battery voltage Vb by VT as shown in the upper graph. In this state, the higher Vb rises, the larger the magnitude of voltage boosting (i.e., Vc−Vb) becomes as shown in the upper graph.  
         [0087]    If battery voltage Vb lowers below 5 V, the output voltage of controller power supply  260  lowers. This causes the amplitudes of the controller circuit  261  output signals Ea and Eb to lower, which in turn the amount of electric charges transferred between adjacent capacities (i.e., the magnitude of voltage rise in each transfer) decreases. The decrease in the operation rate of each of the elements (not shown) constituting controller circuit  261  decreases the frequencies of signals Ea and Eb, which decreases the amount of electric charges stored and transferred in a unit time. Due to these factors, the output voltage Vc of bias circuit  250  drastically falls as the battery voltage Vb lowers below V 5 . When the battery voltage Vb reaches V 3 , bias circuit or voltage booster  250  stops its operation; i.e., diode  251  is kept on, yielding an output voltage Vc of Vb−Vf. If the battery voltage Vb reaches V 1  (substantially equal to Vf), then also diode  251  becomes off, yielding an output voltage Vc of 0 V.  
         [0088]    In FIG. 18, voltage V 4  is the minimum battery voltage that enables bias circuit  250  to output a voltage of Vb+VT. In other words, if battery voltage is not less than V 4 , MOS FET Q 1   b  is completely on, providing output voltage Vo substantially equal to Vb. If battery voltage Vb is lower than V 4  and higher than V 3 , MOS FET Q 1   b  is incompletely on, yielding output voltage Vo lower than Vb.  
         [0089]    On the other hand, curve Go indicates the input-to-output characteristic of CV circuit  7  provided with the substitute circuit  550 .  
         [0090]    The low Vb detector  560  is so arranged as to provide an output voltage Vd such that Vd is substantially equal to battery voltage Vb for battery voltage Vb &gt;V 6  and is zero for battery voltage Vb ÅÖ V 6 . The voltage V 6  is so set as to be higher than the minimum battery voltage V 4  that enables bias circuit  250  to output a voltage of Vb+VT. Also, the reference voltage Vref is so set as to satisfy:  
         Vref=V 6 ·Rb/(Ra+Rb),  (1)  
         [0091]    where Ra and Rb are resistor values of resistors  562  and  654 , respectively.  
         [0092]    For battery voltage Vb&gt;V 6 :  
         [0093]    The low Vb detector  560  provides a voltage substantially equal to Vb, making transistor Q 2  off; and a sufficiently high voltage Vc makes transistor Q 1   b  completely on, yielding an output voltage Vo substantially equal to Vb.  
         [0094]    For battery voltage Vb; V 4  ÅÖ Vb ÅÖV 6 :  
         [0095]    Low Vb detector  560  provides a voltage Vd of 0 V, making Q 2  on; and bias circuit  250  provides a voltage Vc higher than VT, making Q 1   b  on also. The reason why there is provided a period in which both of transistors Q 1   b  and Q 2  is that the pumping characteristic of voltage booster  250  and static characteristics of MOS FET Q 1   b  vary with the temperature and with every CV circuit  7 , which causes the value of voltage V 4  to vary. For this reason, the voltage V 6  is preferably set larger than the possible maximum value of V 4 .  
         [0096]    For battery voltage Vb; V 2 ′ ÅÖ Vb ÅÖV 4 :  
         [0097]    Since low Vb detector provides a voltage Vd of OV, the battery voltage Vb of this range can make transistor Q 2  on. In this state, the collector-to-emitter voltage is the saturation voltage causing output voltage Vo to be substantially equal to Vb. Not only because the output Vc of bias circuit  250  lowers below Vb+VT but because the output voltage Vo or the source potential of Q 1   b  is maintained substantially at the battery voltage Vb by transistor Q 2 , transistor Q 1   b  drastically decreases in its gate-to-source voltage to become off.  
         [0098]    For battery voltage Vb&lt;V 2 ′:  
         [0099]    Low Vb detector cannot operate at this range of battery voltage Vb, and accordingly cannot drive transistor Q 2  to conduct. That is, both transistors Q 1   b  and Q 2  are off.  
         [0100]    As described above, though transistor Q 1   b  becomes incompletely on for battery voltage Vb&lt;V 4 , low Vb detector  560  detects the lowering of battery voltage Vb under the voltage V 6  which is set higher than V 4  to turn on transistor Q 2 .  
         [0101]    Even if battery voltage Vb is lower than the minimum battery voltage V 4  to turn on Q 1   b  completely, low Vb detector  560  can make transistor Q 2  in a sufficiently-on state or saturated on state, providing the output voltage Vo substantially equal to Vb. Also, since transistor Q 2  is saturated on, the device loss or collector loss can be reduced to a low level.  
         [0102]    [0102]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another exemplary low Vb detector substitutable for that  560  of FIG. 15. In FIG. 19, the low Vb detector  560   a  comprises serially connected resistors  572  and  574  connected to between IC pin T 1  and IC pin T 5 ; an NPN transistor  578  having its base connected to the node between resistors  572  and  574 , its emitted connected to ground; a constant current source  576  having its anode connected to IC pin T 1 ; and a NPN transistor  680  having its base connected to the collector of transistor  578  and the cathode of constant current source  576 , it emitter connected to ground and its collector treated as the output conductor of low Vb detector  560   a.    
         [0103]    In this configuration, the values of resistors  572  and  574  are so determined as to satisfy:  
         Vf=V 6 ·Rd/(Rc+Rd),  (2)  
         [0104]    where Rc and Rd are the values of resistors  572  and  574 , respectively, and Vf is the base-to-emitter voltage of transistor  578 .  
         [0105]    If battery voltage Vb is higher than V 6 , then transistor  578  is on to allowing the entire current from constant current source  576  to flow through transistor  578 . This makes transistor  580  off, which in turn makes transistor Q 2  off. Conversely, if battery voltage Vb is not higher than V 6 , then transistor Q 2  becomes on.  
         [0106]    Low Vb detector  560   a  can be used instead of circuit  560  in CV circuit  7 , yielding the same effects or advantages.  
         [0107]    [0107]FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another exemplary bias circuit substitutable for that  250  of FIG. 15. In FIG. 15, bias circuit or chopper circuit  250   a  comprises the controller power supply  260 ; a controller circuit  261   a  for providing a control signal; a resistor  62  having one end connected to IC pin T 2 ; a transistor  61  having its emitter connected to ground and its base connected to the other end of resistor  62  and the output of controller circuit  261   a ; a coil having one end connected to IC pin T 2  (Vb); a diode  63  having its anode connected to the other end of coil  60  and the collector of transistor  61 ; and a capacitor  64  having one end connected to ground and the other end thereof connected to the cathode of the diode  63  and treated as the output conductor of the bias circuit  250   a.    
         [0108]    In the above configuration, a high-level signal from circuit  261   a  turns on transistor  61  to allowing a current to flow through coil  60 . A subsequent change in the circuit  261   a  output signal to the low level causes transistor  61  to become off, which in turn causes the current flowing through coil  60  to change its course from transistor  61  to diode  63  and charge the capacitor  64 . Repeating these processes forms a raised voltage Vc in the capacitor  64 .  
         [0109]    Bias circuit or chopper circuit  250   a  cab be used instead of circuit  250  in CV circuit  7 , yielding the same effects or advantages.  
         [0110]    [0110]FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of a CV circuit of type II which uses P-type MOSFET as an output transistor Q 1   b  in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the invention. It is noted that the CV circuit  8  is obtained by applying the concept of the invention as shown in FIG. 4 to CV  4  circuit of type II shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0111]    Though CV circuit  8  of FIG. 21 is basically the same as CV circuit  7  of FIG. 15, they differ from each other in the following points. In FIG. 21, switching circuits  290  and  292  has been added to ensure the switching of transistors  291  and  295 , respectively; bias circuit  250  has been replaced with circuit  250   a ; and low Vb detector  560  has been replaced with circuit  560   a.    
         [0112]    Bias circuit  250   a  is so arranged as to generate a negative voltage −VT enough to drive transistor  291  to conduct.  
         [0113]    Low Vb detector  560   a  is so arranged as to generate a voltage of 0 V for battery voltage Vb&gt;V 6  and to generate a voltage substantially equal to battery voltage Vb for battery voltage Vb ÅÖ V 6 .  
         [0114]    If battery voltage Vb lowers below V 6  which is set lower than the minimum battery voltage V 4  that turns completely on MOS FET  291 , then transistor  295  is turned on to provide the output voltage Vo substantially equal to Vb. This is also true even when battery voltage Vb lowers below V 4 .  
         [0115]    Many widely different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.