Digitally controlled voltage regulator
First Claim
1. A digitally controlled voltage regulator comprising:
- a plurality of power integrated circuits adapted for coupling to a load having variable power requirements and for providing regulated power to said load, at least one of said plurality of power integrated circuits also sensing voltages at said load;
a control integrated circuit coupled to said plurality of power integrated circuits for providing digital control signals to said plurality of power integrated circuits and for receiving digital signals from said power integrated circuits;
said control integrated circuit adjusting the digital control signals in response to the signals received from said power integrated circuits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a digitally controlled multi-phase voltage regulator system providing regulated power to electronic components that have variable power requirements. Power is supplied by one or more power integrated circuits (IC) each having a high side power switch controlled by pulse width modulated signals and a low side power switch. The power IC senses voltage at the load and has an on-chip current mirror for generating a current that is a ratio of current delivered to the load. The power IC also has current limiting and on-chip temperature sensing components. The voltage and current information is digitized and provided to a control integrated circuit (IC). The control IC receives this digitized information as well as user provided parameters and, in the regulation mode of operation, provides digitized pulse width modulated control signals to the power IC. In an active transient response mode of operation, the control IC provides signals to turn either the high side switches or low side switches ON. Fault detection circuitry identifies over voltage, under voltage, and excessive temperatures. All communications between the control IC and the power IC are digital providing high bandwidth, optimal control frequency response, noise immunity and efficient active transient response.
71 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A digitally controlled voltage regulator comprising:
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a plurality of power integrated circuits adapted for coupling to a load having variable power requirements and for providing regulated power to said load, at least one of said plurality of power integrated circuits also sensing voltages at said load;
a control integrated circuit coupled to said plurality of power integrated circuits for providing digital control signals to said plurality of power integrated circuits and for receiving digital signals from said power integrated circuits;
said control integrated circuit adjusting the digital control signals in response to the signals received from said power integrated circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A digital control integrated circuit comprising:
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a digital current interface for receiving digital information representing current measurements;
a voltage error interface for receiving a voltage error signal;
a programmable storage device for storing desired parameters;
a compensation network responsive to digital signals from each of said digital interface, voltage error interface and instruction storage device; and
a pulse width modulator responsive to signals from said compensation network for providing signals of varying pulse width to thereby control the power to a load device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A power integrated circuit adapted to be coupled to a load having variable power requirements and for providing regulated power to said load, comprising:
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a high side power switch for providing high side power to said load;
a driver circuit for supplying pulse width modulated control signals to said high side power switch;
a current mirror circuit for generating a mirrored current that is a ratio of the current delivered to the load;
said current mirror circuit being formed on the same semiconductor substrate and by the same process as said high side switch assuring accurate scaling with automatic process and temperature variation compensation; and
a current analog to digital converter for converting said mirrored current to a digital bit stream. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification