A Low Dropout Voltage Regulator with Higher Than Supply Output Voltage and Load Based Frequency Control System

A Low Dropout Voltage Regulator with a higher than supply output voltage is designed and implemented using SAED 14nm finFET technology. A feedback system is added to detect changes in the load line and adjust the drivability of the regulator via controlling the frequency of the clock signals fed to the charge pump. Simulations are run to determine the efficiency of the power saving control system against the traditional approach. The regulator provides an output voltage of 1.5*Vph (Vph=1.2 V at typical corner) and can drive a load current of 200uA up to 2mA. The design uses a charge pump to increase the input voltage from Vph to around 1.75*Vph. Over corner simulations are performed to ensure the reliability of the design across all corners and operating conditions.