Analysis and Characterization of a Programmable Low-dropout Regulator

Analysis and Characterization of a Programmable Low-dropout Regulator (April 2007) Xiaofan Qiu Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Texas A&M University Research Advisor: Dr. Jose Silva-Martinez Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering As portable electronic devices become a part of daily life, it creates a huge market for electronic components for those battery driven devices. Low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator is an important part that provides steady DC supplies for other components. Low power, low noise and high stability are the desired features of a regulator. Detailed analyses on CMOS LDO design and the designs of two different compensation schemes for LDO are presented in this thesis. Experimental results of the designed compensation programmable low-power low-dropout (LDO) Voltage Regulator, in comparison with an existing compensated LDO, are also presented. The designed compensation implementation demonstrates a fast transient response and high stability in all programmable output levels. Testing chip fabricated in a standard 0.35 m μ CMOS technology provided the important parameters of the regulator, e.g. transient response, load regulation, line regulation, power supply rejection ratio (PSRR).