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;
wherein at least one of said power integrated circuits comprises a window comparator sensing voltage variations at said load and providing an output that initiates an active transient response to voltage variations sensed at said load, said window comparator comprising a first digital to analog converter providing a signal to a first comparator enabling it to provide a high active transient response signal and a second digital to analog converter providing a signal to a second comparator enabling it to provide a low active transient response signal;
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.
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Citations
23 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; wherein at least one of said power integrated circuits comprises a window comparator sensing voltage variations at said load and providing an output that initiates an active transient response to voltage variations sensed at said load, said window comparator comprising a first digital to analog converter providing a signal to a first comparator enabling it to provide a high active transient response signal and a second digital to analog converter providing a signal to a second comparator enabling it to provide a low active transient response signal; 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)
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21. 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 interfaces and said voltage error interface and instruction storage device, said compensation network comprising a circuit for current averaging and balancing responsive to signals from said digital current interface, an active voltage positioning circuit responsive to the output of said circuit for current averaging and balancing and a proportional integrated derivative feedback control circuit (PID) for receiving inputs from the active voltage positioning circuit and the instruction storage device, for providing signals to said pulse width modulator; and said 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 (22, 23)
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Specification