Multi-phase switching converters and methods
First Claim
1. A method of operating a buck converter comprising:
- a) providing a plurality of buck converter stages operating into a common buck converter output;
b) if after the prior operation of a buck converter stage, the buck converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the buck converter stages one at a time in a sequence, the operation of each buck converter stage being initiated when the buck converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage;
c) if after the prior operation of a buck converter stage, the buck converter output is less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time;
d) if after the prior operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time, the buck converter output is less than a regulation voltage, again initiating the operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time;
e) if after the prior operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time, the buck converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the buck converter stages one at a time in a sequence, the operation of each buck converter stage being initiated when the buck converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multi-phase switching converters and methods that provide fast response and low ripple on the converter inputs and outputs. The converters include multiple converter stages that are normally operated in sequence into a common load. However upon sensing that operation of one of the converter stages does not bring the converter back into regulation, multiple converter stages are operated until regulation is reestablished, after which the converter stages are operated in sequence again. In the embodiment disclosed, upon sensing that operation of one of the converter stages does not bring the converter back into regulation, all converter stages are operated until regulation is reestablished, after which the converter stages are operated in sequence again starting with the stage with the lowest inductor current.
125 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of operating a buck converter comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of buck converter stages operating into a common buck converter output;
b) if after the prior operation of a buck converter stage, the buck converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the buck converter stages one at a time in a sequence, the operation of each buck converter stage being initiated when the buck converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage;
c) if after the prior operation of a buck converter stage, the buck converter output is less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time;
d) if after the prior operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time, the buck converter output is less than a regulation voltage, again initiating the operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time;
e) if after the prior operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time, the buck converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the buck converter stages one at a time in a sequence, the operation of each buck converter stage being initiated when the buck converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A buck converter comprising:
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a plurality of buck converter stages, each having an inductor coupled to a common output;
a buck converter controller responsive to an output voltage of the buck converter to control the plurality of buck converter stages, the buck converter controller;
a) initiating the operation of the buck converter stages one at a time in a sequence, each buck converter stage being initiated when the buck converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage if after the prior operation of a buck converter stage, the buck converter output is not less than a regulation voltage;
b) initiating the operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time if after the prior operation of a buck converter stage, the buck converter output is less than a regulation voltage;
c) again initiating the operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time if after the prior operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time, the buck converter output is less than a regulation voltage; and
,d) initiating the operation of the buck converter stages one at a time in a sequence, each buck converter stage being operated when the buck converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage, if after the prior operation of multiple buck converter stages at a time, the buck converter output is not less than a regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a switching converter comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of switching converter stages operating into a common switching converter output;
b) if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time in a sequence, the operation of each switching converter stage being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage;
c) if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time;
d) if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage, again initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time; and
,e) if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time in a sequence, the operation of each switching converter stage being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A switching converter comprising:
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a plurality of switching converter stages, each having an inductor coupled to a common output;
a switching converter controller responsive to an output voltage of the switching converter to control the plurality of switching converter stages, the switching converter controller;
a) initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time in a sequence, each switching converter stage being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage;
b) initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage;
c) again initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage; and
,d) initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time in a sequence, each switching converter stage being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage, if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a switching converter comprising:
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a) providing a plurality of switching converter stages operating into a common switching converter output;
b) if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time, the switching converter stage with the lowest current being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage;
c) if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time;
d) if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage, again initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time; and
,e) if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage, initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time, the switching converter stage with the lowest current being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A switching converter comprising:
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a plurality of switching converter stages, each having an inductor coupled to a common output;
a switching converter controller responsive to an output voltage of the switching converter to control the plurality of switching converter stages, the switching converter controller;
a) initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time, the switching converter stage with the lowest current being operated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage;
b) initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time if after the prior operation of a switching converter stage, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage;
c) again initiating the operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is less than a regulation voltage; and
,d) initiating the operation of the switching converter stages one at a time, the switching converter stage with the lowest current being initiated when the switching converter output becomes less than a regulation voltage, if after the prior operation of multiple switching converter stages at a time, the switching converter output is not less than a regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification