Low-dropout Regulator Using Body-driven Technique

Small size and high performance LDO regulator using body driven technique is presented in this paper. The body driven technique can decrease threshold voltage (Vth) and increase the current I-D flowing from drain to source in current. The technique is applied to the error amplifier, voltage buffer and pass transistor to reduce chip size and maintain the same performance as conventional LDO regulator. The pass transistor using the technique can reduce the size 5.4% compared with conventional pass transistor at 150mA load condition. The proposed current mirror in error amplifier and voltage buffer can save the area about 61% compared with the conventional current mirror. The proposed LDO regulator works under the input voltage of 2.7V similar to 4.5V and provides up to 150mA load current for an output voltage range of 1.2 similar to 3.3V.