Switching voltage regulator including a power MOS switch and driver circuit therefor

摘要

A switching voltage regulator includes a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) power switch and driver circuit therefor. The MOS power switch may include a plurality of n power transistors each connected in parallel with one other. In particular, the first of the plurality of power transistors may have a larger size than the other power transistors. More specifically, the respective sizes of the individual power transistors may scale down from one to the next. In this way, an equivalent size of the power switch is greatly reduced with respect to prior art switches in that the first and largest transistor may be readily turned off. This may be carried out without substantially affecting the delivered current, which continues to be supplied by the remaining transistors. Further, a transconductance of the power switch may decrease as the power transistors are turned off in order from the first through the nth power transistors.