VLSI Hybrid DC-DC Regulator

Abstract

Hybrid DC-DC regulators are structures that combine both a linear voltage regulator and a switching DC-DC converter. The main objective of this hybrid topology is to converge, in a single circuit topology, the best of both alternatives: a small voltage output ripple, which is a common characteristic of linear regulator circuits, and good energy efficiency, as in switching alternatives. While the linear regulator fixes the required output voltage to a fixed value with negligible steady-state ripple without the necessity of an output capacitor, the switching converter is devoted to drive most of the load current. In addition, the linear one supplies the required current when the load changes at transient intervals. Current paper deals with the design of an on-chip hybrid converter for low output currents. The design has been designed and tested with simulations using a standard 180 nm CMOS technology. The simulation results presented in the paper shows suitable performance of the design.