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Samsung patents power chip that safely shuts down when voltage drops

This patent describes a power regulator that uses a dynamic voltage scaling circuit to lower the output voltage before the device turns off. A control circuit monitors this drop and cuts power to the main transistor once the voltage reaches a specific low level, ensuring a controlled shutdown sequence.

Why it mattersIt improves the reliability of power management in electronic devices by preventing abrupt power cuts, which can help protect sensitive components during shutdown.

In the filing’s own words

A regulator includes a reference voltage generation circuit generating a second reference voltage varied from a first reference voltage according to a dynamic control signal, an error amplifier configured to generate an error voltage based on the second reference voltage and a regulation voltage at an output node, a power transistor including a gate terminal connected to the error amplifier and receiving an input voltage to output the regulation voltage to the output node based on the error voltage, a dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) circuit connected to the reference voltage generation circuit and the output node and dropping the regulation voltage to the second reference voltage, and a control circuit receiving a power-off signal from a processor and turning off the power transistor when the regulation voltage drops to the second reference voltage by the DVS circuit.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A regulator comprising: a reference voltage generation circuit configured to generate a second reference voltage varied from a first reference voltage according to a dynamic control signal; an error amplifier configured to generate an error voltage based on the second reference voltage and a regulation voltage at an output node; a power transistor comprising a gate terminal connected to the error amplifier and configured to receive an input voltage to output the regulation voltage to the output node based on the error voltage; a dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) circuit connected to the reference voltage generation circuit and the output node and configured to drop the regulation voltage to the second reference voltage; and a control circuit configured to receive a power-off signal from a processor and further configured to turn off the power transistor when the regulation voltage drops to the second reference voltage by the DVS circuit.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
Regulator with dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) controlled power-off sequencing and power management integrated circuit including the same
Patent number
US12730465B2
Application number
18602173
Filed
Mar 12, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

G05F 1/565 Physics & computingG05F 1/575 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.