MULTIPHASE DIGITAL CURRENT MODE CONTROLLER WITH DYNAMIC CURRENT ALLOCATION
First Claim
1. A method of operating a multiphase switching regulator having a power stage with at least a first phase and a second phase for supplying power to a load through inductors coupling the phases to the load, the method comprising:
- switching the first phase at a higher switching frequency than the second phase via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided to the phases;
generating a phase-specific target current for each phase at the switching frequency for that phase based on the difference between an output voltage of the power stage and a reference voltage;
sensing the current in the inductors coupling the phases to the load; and
adjusting a duty cycle of the PWM signal provided to each phase based on the phase-specific target current and sensed inductor current for that phase.
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Abstract
A multiphase switching regulator includes a power stage with at least a first phase and a second phase for supplying power to a load through inductors coupling the phases to the load. The multiphase switching regulator is operated by switching the first phase at a higher switching frequency than the second phase via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided to the phases. A phase-specific target current is generated for each phase at the switching frequency for that phase based on the difference between an output voltage of the power stage and a reference voltage. The current in the inductors coupling the phases to the load is sensed, and a duty cycle of the PWM signal provided to each phase is adjusted based on the phase-specific target current and sensed inductor current for that phase.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of operating a multiphase switching regulator having a power stage with at least a first phase and a second phase for supplying power to a load through inductors coupling the phases to the load, the method comprising:
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switching the first phase at a higher switching frequency than the second phase via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided to the phases; generating a phase-specific target current for each phase at the switching frequency for that phase based on the difference between an output voltage of the power stage and a reference voltage; sensing the current in the inductors coupling the phases to the load; and adjusting a duty cycle of the PWM signal provided to each phase based on the phase-specific target current and sensed inductor current for that phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A multiphase switching regulator, comprising:
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a power stage including at least a first phase and a second phase for supplying power to a load through inductors coupling the phases to the load; current sensors operable to sense the current in the inductors coupling the phases to the load; and a controller operable to switch the first phase at a higher switching frequency than the second phase via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided to the phases, generate a phase-specific target current for each phase at the switching frequency for that phase based on the difference between an output voltage of the power stage and a reference voltage, and adjust a duty cycle of the PWM signal provided to each phase based on the phase-specific target current and sensed inductor current for that phase. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification