Patent ID: 7292015

Claim:
A regulating apparatus having an output node and being operative for regulating the voltage at said output node with respect to a common node to a desired value set by a reference signal provided to said regulating apparatus, said regulating apparatus comprising: a linear amplifier stage operative for receiving said reference signal and being capable of sourcing current to said output node when a present voltage level at said output node is less than a desired voltage level at said output node set by said reference signal; and a switching circuit comprising a first semiconductor switch connected between a power supply and a first node, a diode whose cathode is connected to said first node and whose anode is connected to said common node, an inductor having one terminal connected to said first node and another terminal connected to said output node, a second semiconductor switch connected in parallel with said inductor; where said first and second semiconductor switches are controlled by signals generated by the linear amplifier stage.