Circuit device including multiple parameterized power regulators

• US 7,964,992 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Apfel, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/210,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 307/31, 307/80, 307/82
• US Class Current: 307/82
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, a circuit device includes a plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits adapted to produce one or more unique power supplies. Each programmable voltage regulator circuit includes a power supply output terminal and a base regulator circuit module that has multiple configurable parameters to support a plurality of regulator configurations. The base regulator circuit module includes a plurality of leads. Each programmable voltage regulator circuit further includes selected circuitry coupled to the plurality of leads and to the power supply output terminal. The selected circuitry is adapted to cooperate with the base regulator circuit module to provide a selected type of regulator circuit and to apply a power supply to the power supply output terminal.

Claims

1. A circuit device comprising:

a plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits adapted to produce one or more unique power supplies, each programmable voltage

regulator circuit comprising;

a power supply output terminal;

a base regulator circuit module that is configurable to adjust multiple parameters to support a plurality of regulator configurations, the base regulator circuit module comprising a plurality of leads; and

selected circuitry coupled to the plurality of leads and to the power supply output terminal, the selected circuitry adapted to cooperate with the base regulator circuit module to provide a selected type of regulator circuit and to apply a power supply to the power supply output terminal.

2. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the multiple parameters include a programmable output voltage, a programmable output current limit, a programmable switching frequency, or any combination thereof.

3. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the multiple parameters comprise an over-voltage threshold, an under-voltage threshold, and an over-current threshold.

4. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the multiple parameters include a programmable dead time control parameter.

5. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the multiple parameters include a fixed PWM pulse on time or off time parameter.

6. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the multiple parameters include a pulse-width modulated (PWM) adjustment parameter to adjust at least one of a PWM frame repetition rate, a PWM frequency, and a PWM duty cycle.

7. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the multiple parameters include a pulse positioning modulation (PPM) parameter to adjust at least one of a pulse position within a pulse width modulated (PWM) frame and a PWM frequency.

8. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the base regulator circuit of each regulator circuit of the plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits is programmed to support the selected type of regulator circuit, and wherein the selected type of regulator circuit comprises one of a parameterized boost regulator, a parameterized low dropout regulator, a parameterized synchronous buck regulator, a parameterized buck regulator, and a parameterized buck boost regulator.

9. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein each regulator circuit of the plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits is independently configurable and programmable.

10. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the base regulator circuit module comprises a base regulator analog circuit module.

11. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the base regulator circuit module comprises a base regulator digital circuit module.

12. The circuit device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of voltage regulators include at least one circuit substrate in a single package.

13. The circuit device of claim 12, wherein the single package includes at least one control input responsive to a programmable technology and coupled to each of the plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits to selectively configure at least one of the plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits to provide a programmable output voltage.

14. The circuit device of claim 13, wherein the programmable technology comprises a control circuit and wherein the control circuit is adapted to apply an external reference signal to the at least one control input, the external reference signal for use by one or more of the programmable voltage regulator circuits.

15. The circuit device of claim 13, wherein the programmable technology is adapted to control a power on sequence associated with the plurality of programmable voltage regulator circuits.

16. A circuit device comprising:

a first fixed configuration regulator circuit including a first output to provide a first power supply;

a second fixed configuration regulator circuit including a second output to provide a second power supply; and

one or more programmable parameterized regulator circuits, each of the one or more programmable parameterized regulator circuits including a power supply output to carry a unique power supply, each of the one or more programmable parameterized regulator circuits comprising;

a base regulator circuit module having multiple configurable parameters to support a plurality of regulator configurations, the base regulator circuit module comprising a plurality of leads; and

selected circuitry coupled to the plurality of leads and adapted to cooperate with the base regulator circuit module to provide a selected type of regulator circuit to provide a desired power supply to the power supply output.

17. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the first and second fixed configuration regulator circuits comprise buck regulator circuits.

18. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the one or more programmable parameterized regulator circuits are adapted to support multiple types of regulator circuits concurrently.

19. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the base regulator circuit module comprises:

at least one programmable reference voltage;

an error amplifier to compare the at least one programmable reference voltage to a positive supply voltage and to generate a voltage error;

a comparator circuit to compare a sensed current to a current error; and

logic to selectively control first and second driver pins to control associated circuitry to provide the desired power supply to the power supply output.

20. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the selected circuitry cooperates with the base regulator circuit module to provide a parameterized buck regulator circuit, and wherein the selected circuitry comprises:

a resistor including a first resistor terminal coupled to a positive voltage lead and including a second resistor terminal;

a transistor device including a first terminal coupled to the second resistor terminal and to a current sense lead, a control terminal coupled to a first driver lead, and a second terminal coupled to an output node;

a diode including an anode terminal coupled to a power supply terminal and a cathode terminal coupled to the output node;

a boost capacitor coupled between a boost voltage lead and the output node;

an inductor including a first inductor terminal coupled to the output node and a second inductor terminal coupled to the power supply output; and

a filter capacitor including a first capacitor terminal coupled to the power supply output and a second capacitor terminal coupled to a second power supply terminal.

21. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the base regulator circuit comprises:

a voltage reference input pin responsive to a control circuit to receive a reference voltage;

a digital compensator coupled to the voltage reference input pin and adapted to digitally compensate the reference voltage;

a sigma-delta modulator coupled to the digital compensator;

a pulse-width modulator coupled to the sigma-delta modulator and to a driver pin that is adapted to drive a gate of a switch; and

frequency control firmware responsive to a control circuit to control a frequency associated with the sigma-delta modulator and with the pulse-width modulator.

22. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the selected circuitry cooperates with the base regulator circuit module to provide a parameterized low drop out regulator circuit, and wherein the selected circuitry comprises:

a resistor including a first resistor terminal coupled to a boost voltage lead and including a second resistor terminal coupled to a current sense lead;

a first transistor device including a first terminal coupled to a second resistor terminal and to the current sense lead, a control terminal coupled to a first driver lead, and a second terminal coupled to the power supply output and to a feedback lead; and

a filter capacitor including a first capacitor terminal coupled to the power supply output and a second capacitor terminal coupled to a power supply terminal.

23. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the selected circuitry cooperates with the base regulator circuit module to provide a parameterized boost regulator circuit, and wherein the selected circuitry comprises:

an inductor including a first inductor terminal coupled a positive voltage terminal and a second inductor terminal coupled to a node;

a transistor device including a first terminal coupled to the node, a control terminal coupled to a second driver lead; and

a second terminal coupled to a current sense lead;

a first resistor including a first resistor terminal coupled to the current sense lead and a second resistor terminal coupled to a boost voltage lead;

a diode including an anode terminal coupled to the node and a cathode terminal coupled to the power supply output;

a filter capacitor including a first capacitor terminal coupled to the power supply output and a second capacitor terminal coupled to a power supply terminal; and

a voltage divider circuit coupled between the power supply output and a feedback lead.

24. The circuit device of claim 16, wherein the base regulator circuit module includes a plurality of programmable characteristics including a high accuracy output voltage, an output current limit, and a programmable switching frequency.

25. The circuit device of claim 16, further comprising a control circuit adapted to control a turn on power sequence associated with the first synchronous buck regulator circuit, the second synchronous buck regulator circuit, and the one or more programmable parameterized regulator circuits to reduce power supply variation during start up.

26. An circuit device comprising:

a plurality of programmable regulator circuits adapted to provide a respective plurality of regulated power supplies at a plurality of output terminals;

each programmable regulator circuit of the plurality of programmable regulator circuits comprising;

a base regulator circuit module including multiple configurable parameters to support a plurality of regulator configurations, the base regulator circuit module comprising a plurality of leads; and

selected circuitry coupled to the plurality of leads and adapted to cooperate with the base regulator circuit module to provide a selected type of regulator circuit having the power supply output.

27. The circuit device of claim 26, further comprising a control input responsive to a control circuit to receive at least one signal to control operation of the plurality of programmable regulator circuits.

28. The circuit device of claim 26, wherein the selected type of regulator circuit is selected from a group consisting of a synchronous buck regulator, a buck regulator, a low dropout (LDO) regulator, a boost regulator, and a boost buck regulator.

29. The circuit device of claim 26, wherein the plurality of programmable regulator circuits are programmable using at least one of a flash memory and a one-time programmable technology.