Patent ID: 7667443

Claim:
A method for operating a voltage regulator at a regulated voltage in a standby mode with a minimum current draw, the method comprising the steps of: operating the voltage regulator in a normal mode; monitoring an output of the voltage regulator, said monitoring comprising the step of generating an error signal indicating a difference between said output and the regulated voltage; generating a first control signal at least in part based on said error signal, said first control signal actively controlling the output of the regulator; monitoring said control signal over a first period of time, said monitoring activating a second control signal when said first control signal is inactive for said first period of time; placing the voltage regulator in the standby mode when said second control signal is active and said error signal indicates said output is substantially at the desired regulated voltage, wherein portions of the voltage regulator are disabled permitting the voltage regulator to operate at the minimum current draw; and placing the voltage regulator in a first mode when a mode change is indicated, enabling said portions, monitoring a timer for a second period of time, and placing the voltage regulator in said normal mode after said second period of time has expired.