A power regulator includes a pass transistor, a feedback circuit, an error
amplifier and a protection circuit. The pass transistor receives an
unregulated first power supply voltage, and an output terminal of the
power regulator outputs an output voltage varying depending upon a
control signal. The feedback circuit senses a current flowing through the
pass transistor and generates a feedback signal. The error amplifier
compares a reference signal to the feedback signal and generates a
control signal varying depending upon a voltage difference between the
reference signal and the feedback signal. The protection circuit scales
down a current flowing through the pass transistor by a prescribed ratio
and changes a voltage of the control signal when the scaled-down current
has a value higher than a prescribed value. Accordingly, the power
regulator may control a current limit correctly and be capable of
implementing a sensing resistor having an appropriate resistance value
for providing over-current protection that occupies a smaller chip area.