Optimized Slew Rate Control Technique for Automotive Low-Dropout Linear Voltage Regulators Simulation Models

Simulation has become the main verification concept used in the automotive domain as its utmost importance lies in validation of the systems design, as well as detecting early faults in the design process. The vast majority of devices used in automotive such as gate drivers, switching regulators, charge pumps, low-dropout linear voltage regulators (LDOs) have a highly complex behavior, hence accurate simulation models are mandatory to ensure the correct functioning of the entire system within the simulation. One critical device for the automotive domain is the LDO, because it powers all the other circuits, hence it is vital to build a simulation model that comprises all its vital characteristics. Since slew-rate is one dominant LDO characteristic that influences the behavior of all the other circuits powered by the regulator, this paper proposes an optimized slew-rate control technique for automotive LDO simulation models, which allows to precisely set the output voltage slew-rate at the desired level. The target simulator is OrCAD Capture CIS, one of the most popular simulation environments currently in use.