Patent ID: 6952091

Claim:
An integrated Low Dropout (LDO) linear voltage regulator providing improved current limiting, comprising: a 2-input, 1-output differential voltage amplifier, a first input receiving a reference voltage; a circuit to sense the output voltage of the voltage regulator and couple that sensed output voltage to a second input of the differential voltage amplifier in a manner that provides negative feedback; a series pass transistor connected to the output of the difference voltage amplifier; a current sense transistor coupled to the series pass transistor using current mirroring to monitor the current passing through the current sense transistor, a reference current source coupled to the output of the current sense transistor; and the junction of the current sense transistor and the reference current source being connected to the differential voltage amplifier in a manner that increases the sensed output voltage as the current through the current sense transistor exceeds the reference current value.