Patent ID: 7446514

Claim:
A linear regulator comprising: a mode selection circuit operable to determine whether a power source voltage received by the linear regulator exceeds a pre-defined operational range of the linear regulator or a load in communication with the linear regulator; a middle stage circuit that reduces power consumption of the linear regulator; a sense circuit that regulates an output voltage; and a power switch to supply the power source voltage to the load, wherein, if the power source voltage is within the pre-defined operational range, the power source voltage is directly supplied to the power switch and from the power switch to the load as the output voltage while the middle stage circuit and the sense circuit are substantially shut off, and wherein, if the power source voltage exceeds the pre-defined operational range, the power switch is controlled to supply a regulated voltage as the output voltage to the load, the regulated voltage being substantially maintained at a pre-determined voltage level by the sense circuit.