Output-capacitorless CMOS LDO regulator based on high slew-rate current-mode transconductance amplifier

Abstract

A low quiescent current output-capacitorless CMOS LDO regulator based on a high slew-rate current-mode transconductance amplifier (CTA) as an error amplifier is presented. Load transient characteristic of the proposed LDO is improved even at low quiescent currents, by using a local common-mode feedback (LCMFB) in the proposed CTA. This provides an increase in the order of transfer characteristic of the circuit, thereby enhancing the slew-rate at the gate of pass transistor. The proposed CTA-based LDO topology has been designed and post-layout simulated in HSPICE, in a 0.18 μm CMOS process to supply a load current between 0-100 mA. Postlayout simulation results reveal that the proposed LDO is stable without any internal compensation strategy and with on-chip output capacitor or lumped parasitic capacitances at the output node between 10-100 pF.