1.

Background of the study

2. Statement of the problem
3. Objectives
4. Significance
5. Scope and limitations
6. Definition of terms
7. Theoretical framework
Chapter 2
Rrl

Chapter 3 methodology
Power Management unit using Low Drop-Out Regulator for MCU.

1.Background of the study

Sensor nodes (motes) are used to gather data from an environment and send this
data to the base station either directly or indirectly through other nodes in a wireless
sensor network. Each node consists of a controller (microprocessor or
microcontroller), memories, RF transceivers, and sensors powered by a battery and or
energy harvesters Power management is an important factor for the wireless sensor
nodes. The objective of this project is to design a power management unit for the
microcontroller by the DOST. The power management unit will be used to power up the
microcontroller, its peripherals and its transceivers. This study is focused on the design of
a linear regulator to power up the microcontroller. Minimizing energy consumption of
battery-operated devices is a key focus for VLSI industry and academia. The most
commonly used strategy is to lower the supply voltage as this leads to near-quadratic
savings of power. [1] LDO’s are widely used for these applications. A low-dropout
regulator (LDO) is capable of maintaining its specified output voltage over a wide range
of load current and input voltage, down to a very small difference between input and
output voltages. [2].
LDOs for DSPs and microcontrollers have to work with good efficiency and
handle high and rapidly varying currents. [2]
LDO consists of a voltage reference, an error amplifier, a feedback voltage
divider, and a pass transistor. The performance of an LDO is based on its PSRR, Line and
Load regulation, Dropout voltages and many more.
The project requires that the LDO should be able to accept voltages ranging from
1.3-1.5 V, then produce and output voltage of 1 V with an output current of 100mA. Load
Regulation should be about 5mV/V/mA and Line regulation should be 5v/mV/V.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
This project aims to design a low drop-out regulator with a stable output of 1V
and 100mA from an input voltage of 1.3-1.5V suitable for powering up the
Microcontroller Unit of a Wireless Sensor Nodes.
1.3 Objectives.
a. To design a Low Drop-Out Regulator for powering up the MCU for the wireless
sensor nodes.
b. To design a Low Drop-Out Regulator that has an Output of 1V and 100mA from an
input voltage of 1.3-1.5V.
 c. To implement and simulate the design using SYNOPSYS Custom Designer under
90nm CMOS technology.
d. To develop the layout of the simulated design circuits and still maintain the expected
output
1.3 Significance of the Study
This study will develop a low drop-out voltage that provides a stable output of 1V
and 100mA to be used for the microcontroller unit of the wireless sensory network.
Since the input voltage will be coming from a battery and energy harvested from
different sources. The low drop-out regulator should be able to operate at a wide range of
temperature and supply voltage variations. The LDO should be able to clean out supply
noise coming from the supply.
1.5 Scope and Limitations
a. This study focuses only to the design of a low dropout voltage regulator for powering
up the microcontroller for Wireless Sensor Nodes. It is limited also to the analysis of
dropout voltage, line and load regulation of the LDO, ripple voltage, and quiescent
current.
b. The design and simulations of this study will be implemented under SAED 90nm
CMOS technology process.
c. Actual fabrication and testing are excluded in the scope of this study.
1.6 Definition of Terms
LDO
LDO or low dropout are voltage regulators that are used to provide stable power
supply voltage independent of load impedance , input voltage variations, temperature and
time. LDO regulators are distinguished by their ability to maintain regulation with small
differences between supply voltage and the load voltage. Wireless Sensor Nodes
Microcontrollers
Microcontroller is a small computer (SoC) on a single integrated
circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals
that can be used as an imbedded system.
Bandgap Voltage Reference
A bandgap voltage reference is a temperature independent voltage
reference circuit widely used in integrated circuits. It produces a fixed
constant voltage regardless of power supply variations, temperature changes and circuit
loading from a device.
Error Amplifier
An error amplifier is an amplifier in which a sampled output voltage is fed back
and compared to a reference voltage. The difference between the two voltages generates a
compensating error voltage which tends to move the output voltage towards the design
specification
Pass Element
It is a controlled variable resistance device which can either be a vacuum tube or a
power transistor. It is driven by the amplified error signal to increase its resistance when the
output needs to be lowered or to decrease its resistance when the output must be raised.

Drop-out voltage

Dropout voltage is the input-to-output differential voltage at which the circuit

ceases to regulate against further reductions in input voltage; this point occurs when the
input voltage approaches the output voltage. Ideally, the dropout voltage should be as low
as possible to minimize power dissipation and maximize efficiency.
Quiescent Current

The quiescent current, IQ, is the difference between the input current, and the load
current, measured at the specified load current. For fixed voltage regulators, quiescent current
is the same as the ground current.

Line Regulation
Line regulation is the change in output voltage for a change in the input voltage. The
ideal line regulation is zero.

Load Regulation

Load regulation is a measure of how much the output voltage changes when subjected
to a change in load current defines load transient performance.

Power Supply Rejection Ratio

Power supply rejection ratio (PSRR), also known as ripple rejection, measures the
LDO regulator’s ability to prevent the regulated output voltage fluctuating caused by input
voltage variations. There are several ways to improve PSR including the use of low-ESR
output capacitors, added reference voltage bypass capacitor, and also by using an
embedded feed forward path which will be introduced in this paper.

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)

CMOS is also sometimes referred to as complementary-symmetry metal-oxide-

semiconductor. The words "complementary-symmetry" refer to the fact that the typical
digital design style with CMOS uses complementary and symmetrical pairs of p-type and n-
type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors(MOSFETs) for logic functions.
 SYNOPSYS Simulator

An analog circuit simulator capable of performing transient, steady state, and

frequency domain analyses.

1.7 Theoretical Framework

The following sections explain the theories and principles behind the operations and
methodology utilized entirely in this study.

1.7.1 Microcontroller

1.7.2 LDO Structure

1. Kaushik Mazumdar , Steven Bartling2 , Sudhanshu Khanna , Mircea Stan 2
2. Ken Marasco