Low Dropout Regulator Power Supply Rejection

Hi all,

I am designing a low drop out regulator, with the specifications of power supply rejection of -30 dB up to 10 MHz, with load current 2mA.
Using 0.13um technology and 1.8v Supply.
With 1V reference voltage generated from a NON IDEAL band gap circuit & using a NON IDEAL op amp. And the regulated voltage = 1.5v

Here is my schematic:



My problem is that I don't understand the factors affecting the power supply rejection.
It starts at -60dB at DC, However it keeps increasing and exceeds 0 dB at the KHz range!!

Here are 3 different graphs showing the PSR plots against 3 factors showing that it almost doesn't depend on any of them!

1- PSR against width of the pass transistor




2- PSR against the resistors value



3- PSR against the op amp load capacitance




Thanks for you time, and ur input is much appreciated.

PMOS LDOs always have a hard time with HF PSRR, any
groundward jerk on the pass FET gate is directly amplified
(common source amplifier). In normal CMOS techologies
ground parasitics are pervasive. You may need to look at
compensation schemes (like, Miller makes it worse as any
drain jerk - which would include + supply movement,
relative to the fixed Vout - is a gate input stimulus; shunt
comp to VIN is less area efficient but better for HF PSRR,
attenuating rather than amplifying dVIN).

Depending on your available resources, an NMOS "ULDO"
design (using an auxiliary higher voltage supply for the
regulation core, and a lower raw supply at VIN to make
VOUT at very low drop) can be much superior for HF PSRR,
making it only about the error amp response and taking
the more-capacitive pass FET out of the picture pretty
much.

- - - Updated - - -

I note that your comp cap is connected exactly wrong
for HF PSRR - return C4.minus to VIN, not gnd!, and
observe.

Shady Ahmed said:

Hi all,

I am designing a low drop out regulator, with the specifications of power supply rejection of -30 dB up to 10 MHz, with load current 2mA.
Using 0.13um technology and 1.8v Supply.
With 1V reference voltage generated from a NON IDEAL band gap circuit & using a NON IDEAL op amp. And the regulated voltage = 1.5v

Here is my schematic:



My problem is that I don't understand the factors affecting the power supply rejection.
It starts at -60dB at DC, However it keeps increasing and exceeds 0 dB at the KHz range!!

Here are 3 different graphs showing the PSR plots against 3 factors showing that it almost doesn't depend on any of them!

1- PSR against width of the pass transistor




2- PSR against the resistors value



3- PSR against the op amp load capacitance




Thanks for you time, and ur input is much appreciated.

Click to expand...

I think your specification -30dB up to 10Mhz isn't easy but you can do it if you design carefully.
Firstly, PSRR of LDO depends on reference voltage input. So, you should optimize reference voltage ( may be bandgap with high PSRR).
Secondly, LDO's PSRR will be effected from opamp in LDO ( important specification: gain, bandwith of opamp,...).
Thirdly, you concentrated to pass MOS and ratio resistor feedback.
Detail for relative between them, you can search google: PSRR in LDO
:-D

nguyenvanthien said:

Firstly, PSRR of LDO depends on reference voltage input. So, you should optimize reference voltage ( may be bandgap with high PSRR).
Secondly, LDO's PSRR will be effected from opamp in LDO ( important specification: gain, bandwith of opamp,...).
Thirdly, you concentrated to pass MOS and ratio resistor feedback.
Detail for relative between them, you can search google: PSRR in LDO
:-D

Click to expand...

Thanks for ur input.
At first I thought that the pass MOS width would have an effect on the PSR but it turned out it didn't.

Now i simulated the LDO PSR using some ideal components to know what is the limiting factor in my design. It turns out that the OP AMP in the BG & the LDO (because I used the same op amp) are what causing the deterioration. When i used a voltage controlled voltage source instead of the op amps in the bandgap and the LDO, the performance was very good.

So i think i should modify my op amp design for a better PSR. Any tips or references on that as I don't know yet. (I am using a folded cascode op amp)

Shady Ahmed said:

... i think i should modify my op amp design for a better PSR. Any tips or references on that as I don't know yet. (I am using a folded cascode op amp)

Click to expand...

Perhaps the following paper can be helpful: View attachment A_300mA_0,18um_CMOS-LDO-Regulator_with_high_PSSR.pdf