Parallel arrangement of asynchronous buck converters for advanced power capability
First Claim
1. A method for extending driving capacity of a power management device, comprising:
- determining an energy requirement for operation of a load via the power management device;
comparing the energy requirement for the operation of the load with a capability of a first power device included in a power management integrated circuit (PMIC);
switching energy delivery to a second power device of higher capacity if the energy requirement is greater than the capability of the first power device, wherein the second power device is external to the PMIC; and
utilizing the first power device without the second power device for the operation of the load if the energy requirement is not greater than the capability of the first power device,wherein the second power device is held in standby mode at a low voltage level when frequent switching is required.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for extending the driving capacity of a power management device are provided. The method involves determining an energy requirement for the operation of a power management device. Next, the method compares the energy requirement for the operation of a power management device with a capability of a first power device. If the energy requirement is greater than the energy requirement of the first power device, the energy is switched to a second power device of higher capacity. The apparatus includes: a first power device; a second power device connected in parallel to the first power device; a first inductor connected to the first power device and a capacitor connected to the first inductor; and a second inductor connected to a second power device and a capacitor connected to the second inductor.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for extending driving capacity of a power management device, comprising:
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determining an energy requirement for operation of a load via the power management device; comparing the energy requirement for the operation of the load with a capability of a first power device included in a power management integrated circuit (PMIC); switching energy delivery to a second power device of higher capacity if the energy requirement is greater than the capability of the first power device, wherein the second power device is external to the PMIC; and utilizing the first power device without the second power device for the operation of the load if the energy requirement is not greater than the capability of the first power device, wherein the second power device is held in standby mode at a low voltage level when frequent switching is required. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for extending driving capacity of a power management device, comprising:
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a first power device included in a power management integrated circuit (PMIC); a second power device connected in parallel to the first power device, wherein the second power device is external to the PMIC and is configured to receive a signal from the PMIC to activate a higher voltage mode via the second power device; a first inductor connected to the first power device and a capacitor connected to the first inductor; and a second inductor connected to the second power device and a capacitor connected to the second inductor, wherein the second power device is held in standby mode at a low voltage level when frequent switching is required. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for extending driving capacity of a power management device, comprising:
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means for determining an energy requirement for operation of a load via the power management device; means for comparing the energy requirement for the operation of the load with a capability of a first power device included in a power management integrated circuit (PMIC); means for switching energy delivery to a second power device of higher capacity if the energy requirement is greater than the capability of the first power device, wherein the second power device is external to the PMIC; means for utilizing the first power device without the second power device for the operation of the load if the energy requirement is not greater than the capability of the first power device; and means for holding the second power device in standby mode at a low voltage level when frequent switching is required. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
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determining an energy requirement for operation of a load via the power management device; comparing the energy requirement for the operation of the load with a capability of a first power device included in a power management integrated circuit (PMIC); switching energy delivery to a second power device of higher capacity if the energy requirement is greater than the capability of the first power device, wherein the second power device is external to the PMIC; utilizing the first power device without the second power device for the operation of the load if the energy requirement is not greater than the capability of the first power device; and holding the second power device is held in standby mode at a low voltage level when frequent switching is required. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification