Patent ID: 7633278

Claim:
A switching regulator comprising: a first signal generator that generates a triangular wave; a first comparator that compares an output potential and a potential of the triangular wave; a first switch element having one terminal set to have a first reference potential and another terminal connected to a first node, the first switch element operating in response to a comparison result of the first comparator; a second switch element having one terminal set to have a second reference potential that is lower than the first reference potential, and another terminal connected to the first node, the second switch element operating in response to the comparison result of the first comparator; an inductor disposed between the first node and an output terminal; a second signal generator that generates a referential potential that simulates a waveform of a current passing through the inductor, such that at least a timing when the current passing through the inductor becomes substantially zero and a timing when the referential potential becomes substantially the same as the output potential correspond; and a switch controlling portion that sets both of the first switch element and the second switch element to an OFF state when the referential potential becomes lower than the output potential, wherein the second signal generator includes a third switch element having one terminal set to have the first reference potential and another terminal connected to a second node, the third switch element operating in conjunction with the first switch element, a fourth switch element having one terminal set to have the second reference potential and another terminal connected to the second node, the fourth switch element operating in conjunction with the second switch element, a first resistor connected to the second node, and a first capacitor connected to the first resistor and being charged/discharged in conjunction with operations of the third switch element and the fourth switch element, wherein a terminal of the first capacitor that is connected to the first resistor is set to have the referential potential.