Active transient response circuits, system and method for digital multiphase pulse width modulated regulators
First Claim
1. A method of regulating voltage in a multiphase pulse-width modulated voltage regulator system comprising:
- providing an output current through a plurality of phases wherein only a single phase is active at a time and at least one phase is inactive;
setting multiple thresholds corresponding to deviations from a predetermined output voltage level in a second direction;
comparing an output voltage to the thresholds;
adjusting the output voltage according to the comparison of the output voltage to the thresholds by providing a compensation signal through at least one of the inactive phases, wherein the compensation signal is generated according to the number of thresholds that have been exceeded;
detecting the current at an output stage of the multiphase pulse-width modulated voltage regulator system;
providing the detected current to a filter; and
adjusting a bandwidth of the filter when detecting that one or more of the multiple thresholds has been exceeded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a multi-phase pulse width modulated voltage regulator and method in which transient voltage excursions or deviations that exceed the load line voltage by more than a predetermined amount are detected by an ATR circuit and a correction signal is applied. The correction signal is in the form of asynchronous pulses and the number of such pulses is a function of the magnitude of the voltage excursion as determined by the number of thresholds that are exceeded. Also disclosed is an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit and method for early detection of a transient event by sensing voltage changes at the load and adjusting the target voltage with pre-determined current values prior to the time that ATR event changes in the current at the load are detected. The AVP load line is pre-positioned for more precise current control. Also disclosed is an adaptive filter with adjustable frequency characteristics in response to an ATR event. Also disclosed is a pulse limiting circuit. Also disclosed is a tri-state implementation. Response to transient events is further improved with an external ATR circuit coupled to the load.
35 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of regulating voltage in a multiphase pulse-width modulated voltage regulator system comprising:
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providing an output current through a plurality of phases wherein only a single phase is active at a time and at least one phase is inactive; setting multiple thresholds corresponding to deviations from a predetermined output voltage level in a second direction; comparing an output voltage to the thresholds; adjusting the output voltage according to the comparison of the output voltage to the thresholds by providing a compensation signal through at least one of the inactive phases, wherein the compensation signal is generated according to the number of thresholds that have been exceeded; detecting the current at an output stage of the multiphase pulse-width modulated voltage regulator system; providing the detected current to a filter; and adjusting a bandwidth of the filter when detecting that one or more of the multiple thresholds has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A digital controller for a multiphase power regulator comprising:
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a multiphase pulse width modulator (PWM) configured to drive a plurality of phase signals wherein only a single phase signal is active at a time and at least one phase is inactive during normal operation; an active transient response (ATR) circuit coupled the PWM, wherein the active transient response circuit is configured to; measure an output voltage; detect multiple threshold levels of deviations of the output voltage from the predetermined voltage level; and generate a compensation signal, wherein the compensation signal drives the PWM to modify the phase signals according to the number of thresholds that have been exceeded; and an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit comprising an adaptive bandwidth filter configured to have selectable bandwidth comprising a narrow bandwidth and a wide bandwidth, and to be adjusted according to a threshold being exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A digital controller for a multiphase power regulator comprising:
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a multiphase pulse width modulator (PWM) driving a plurality of phase signals wherein only a single phase signal is active at a time and at least one phase is inactive during normal operation; an active transient response (ATR) circuit coupled the PWM, wherein the active transient response circuit is configured to; measure an output voltage; detect multiple threshold levels of deviations of the output voltage from the predetermined voltage level; generate a compensation signal, wherein the compensation signal drives the PW to modify the phase signals according to the number of thresholds that have been exceeded; and an adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) circuit comprising; an adaptive bandwidth filter configured to have selectable bandwidth comprising a narrow bandwidth and a wide bandwidth; and a summing circuit configured to receive pre-determined current values corresponding to the one or more of the multiple threshold values that have been exceeded, add the pre-determined current values to a detected current at a power stage and provide a sum of the detected current and the pre-determined current values to the adaptive bandwidth filter.
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Specification