Patent ID: 7218086

Claim:
A switching regulator receiving an input voltage and including a power switch controlled by a control loop to generate a switching output voltage and an output circuit coupled to receive the switching output voltage and to supply an output current at a regulated output voltage to a load, the switching regulator comprising: a first input terminal receiving a program input voltage indicative of a desired output current to be provided to the load, the program input voltage having voltages values between and including the input voltage and a first power supply reference voltage; a voltage divider comprising first, second and third resistors connected in series between a first reference voltage and the first power supply reference voltage, the voltage divider providing a second reference voltage at a first node between the first and second resistors and a third reference voltage at a second node between the second and third resistors; and a precision active pulldown circuit coupled to receive the program input voltage and operative to pull down the second reference voltage at the first node in response to the program input voltage, wherein the third reference voltage is used in the control loop of the switching regulator to control the output current of the switching regulator in response to the program input voltage.