Patent ID: 7602161

Claim:
A voltage regulator comprising: voltage divider circuitry operable to generate a first voltage from a supply voltage; an output transistor having a control terminal, a second channel terminal configured as an output of the voltage regulator, and a first channel terminal configured to receive the supply voltage; and control circuitry having a first terminal coupled to the voltage divider to receive the first voltage, a second terminal coupled to the control terminal of the output transistor, and a third terminal coupled to the output of the voltage regulator to form a feedback loop; wherein the control circuitry is operable, via the feedback loop, to maintain the first voltage at the output of the voltage regulator; and wherein the control circuitry is operable to control the output transistor via the second terminal, to prevent the output of the voltage regulator from rising above a specified voltage that is lower than the supply voltage, even at a time the voltage regulator is turned on and/or powered up.