Patent ID: 7911190

Claim:
A switching regulator, comprising: voltage regulator circuitry, for generating switching control signals for producing a regulated voltage; an on-chip power output driver function integrated into an integrated circuit with, and coupled to, the voltage regulator circuitry, the on-chip power output driver function comprising at least one power transistor for driving the regulated voltage at a first terminal responsive to the switching control signals, the first terminal suitable for connection to an external load; an off-chip power interface, coupled to the voltage regulator circuitry, for applying control signals to a second terminal responsive to the switching control signals, the second terminal suitable for connection to an external power transistor; and an output select circuit, coupled to one of the first and second terminals, for detecting the presence or absence of an external component at the one of the first and second terminals, and for enabling one of the on-chip power output driver function and the off-chip power interface responsive to the detecting.