Abstract: According to an embodiment, a multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases each of which is operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. A controller is operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, test the output phases in a predetermined sequence, and determine if the phase currents respond in a predetermined way.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases each of which is operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. A controller is operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, determine if the monitored phase currents indicate any of the individual output phases, any of the individual inductors or the output capacitor are faulty even if the total current delivered to the load is within specified limits, synchronously switch the output phases which cause ripples in the phase currents, and detect if any of the phase currents fail to have a ripple current pattern that matches an expected ripple current pattern.

Abstract: A method of controlling a voltage regulator includes regulating a voltage output by the voltage regulator to correspond to a target voltage, generating a voltage ramp that starts at a first voltage and ends at a second voltage and responsive to the voltage ramp, modifying the output voltage response of the voltage regulator based on one or more compensation parameters.

Abstract: A current estimation method for a switching voltage regulator that delivers current to a load through an inductor includes measuring a voltage across a capacitor of an RC current sense network coupled in parallel with the inductor, generating an estimate of the current through the inductor based on the voltage measured across the capacitor of the RC current sense network and adjusting the estimate of the current through the inductor by a compensation filter that compensates for variation in the inductance of the inductor as a function of at least one of temperature and current.

Abstract: A multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases, each operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. The multiphase regulator further includes a controller operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, and monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases. The controller is further operable to determine if the monitored phase currents indicate any of the individual output phases, any of the individual inductors or the output capacitor are faulty, even if the total current delivered to the load is within specified limits.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter includes a power stage, a main compensator, and a voltage ramp circuit. The power stage is operable to output a voltage to a load. The main compensator is operable to control switching of the power stage so that the voltage output by the power stage corresponds to a target voltage indicated to the switched mode power converter. The voltage ramp circuit includes a voltage ramp generator and a dynamic voltage transition compensation circuit. The voltage ramp generator is operable to generate a voltage ramp that starts at a first voltage corresponding to the target voltage and ends at a second voltage corresponding to a new target voltage. The dynamic voltage transition compensation circuit is responsive to the voltage ramp generator and operable to modify the output voltage response of the switched mode power converter based on one or more compensation parameters.

Abstract: Controller circuitry controls power supply circuitry to produce an output voltage. During operation of the power supply circuitry to produce the output voltage, the controller circuitry calculates a magnitude of capacitance of output capacitor circuitry in the power supply. According to one configuration, the controller circuitry utilizes a calculated magnitude of capacitance as a basis to adjust settings of the power supply circuitry.

Abstract: A switching power converter includes a phase operable to deliver a phase current to a load through an inductor. The phase current has an expected sawtooth or triangular ripple pattern. The switching power converter further includes a measuring unit operable to measure the phase current at two or more different points of a switching cycle during which the phase is turned on over a first interval of the switching cycle and turned off over a second interval of the switching cycle. The switching power converter also includes an analysis unit operable to determine whether the phase is faulty based on the phase current measurements taken at the two or more different points of the switching cycle. A corresponding method of detecting a phase fault in a switching power converter is also provided.

Abstract: A phase current estimator for a switching power converter includes analog circuitry for generating a phase current estimate error by comparing a phase current of the switching power converter to an analog representation of an estimate of the phase current, the phase current having a sawtooth or triangular waveform. The phase current estimator further includes digital circuitry for revising the phase current estimate based on the phase current estimate error and a plurality of parameters associated with operation of the switching power converter, so that the phase current estimate tracks the sawtooth or triangular waveform of the phase current.

Abstract: A phase current estimator for a switching power converter includes analog circuitry for generating a phase current estimate error by comparing a phase current of the switching power converter to an analog representation of an estimate of the phase current. The phase current estimator further includes digital circuitry for revising the phase current estimate based on the phase current estimate error and a plurality of parameters associated with operation of the switching power converter. An estimator fault detection unit is provided for determining whether a difference between the phase current and estimate exceeds a threshold for indicating substandard phase current estimation.

Abstract: A switching regulator includes a multiphase converter which includes a plurality of main phases configured to covert a power supply voltage to a lower voltage for application to an electronic device at different load conditions. The switching regulator also includes an auxiliary phase configured to operate in a pulse frequency modulation mode during a light load condition so that power is supplied to the electronic device by at least the auxiliary phase during the light load condition.

Abstract: A switching regulator includes a controller and a power stage for coupling to a load through an inductor and a capacitor. The a controller is operable to control operation of the power stage via a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generated based on a difference between a reference voltage and the load voltage and sample the inductor current at a lower rate than the load voltage. The controller is further operable to estimate the capacitor current based on the sampled load voltage, generate an offset to the reference voltage based on the sampled inductor current and the estimated capacitor current and adjust the PWM signal applied to the power stage based on the offset. The switching regulator can be single-phase or multi-phase.

Abstract: A switched mode power converter includes a power stage, a main compensator, and a voltage ramp circuit. The power stage is operable to output a voltage to a load. The main compensator is operable to control switching of the power stage so that the voltage output by the power stage corresponds to a target voltage indicated to the switched mode power converter. The voltage ramp circuit includes a voltage ramp generator and a dynamic voltage transition compensation circuit. The voltage ramp generator is operable to generate a voltage ramp that starts at a first voltage corresponding to the target voltage and ends at a second voltage corresponding to a new target voltage. The dynamic voltage transition compensation circuit is responsive to the voltage ramp generator and operable to modify the output voltage response of the switched mode power converter based on one or more compensation parameters.

Abstract: A switching regulator includes an output phase having a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor operable to switch on and off at different periods responsive to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal applied to the output phase, each cycle of the PWM signal having an on-portion and an off-portion. The switching regulator further includes a current sense circuit operable to sense the current of the low-side transistor, an analog-to-digital converter operable to sample the sensed low-side transistor current during the off-portion for each PWM cycle and a current estimator operable to estimate a cycle average current for the present PWM cycle based on the low-side transistor current sampled during the off-portion for the immediately preceding PWM cycle and a pulse width estimate for the on-portion for the present PWM cycle.

Abstract: A multiphase switching regulator includes a power stage with at least a first phase and a second phase for supplying power to a load through inductors coupling the phases to the load. The multiphase switching regulator is operated by switching the first phase at a higher switching frequency than the second phase via pulse width modulation (PWM) signals provided to the phases. A phase-specific target current is generated for each phase at the switching frequency for that phase based on the difference between an output voltage of the power stage and a reference voltage. The current in the inductors coupling the phases to the load is sensed, and a duty cycle of the PWM signal provided to each phase is adjusted based on the phase-specific target current and sensed inductor current for that phase.

Abstract: Control loop coefficients for a digital voltage regulator controller are determined by determining PID (proportional-integral-derivative) coefficients that satisfy gain and phase margin targets for a digital voltage regulator controller, as a function of a plurality of system parameters for the digital voltage regulator controller, and re-determining one or more of the PID coefficients to flatten an output impedance response of the digital voltage regulator controller for frequencies below a bandwidth of the digital voltage regulator controller.

Abstract: A current estimation method for a switching voltage regulator that delivers current to a load through an inductor includes measuring a voltage across a capacitor of an RC current sense network coupled in parallel with the inductor, generating an estimate of the current through the inductor based on the voltage measured across the capacitor of the RC current sense network and adjusting the estimate of the current through the inductor by a compensation filter that compensates for variation in the inductance of the inductor as a function of at least one of temperature and current.

Abstract: A voltage regulation system for providing power to a load is provided. The voltage regulation system includes a voltage regulator operable to set an operating voltage of the load at a first voltage level which corresponds to a first voltage requirement of the load, receive a second voltage requirement of the load which is different than the first voltage requirement and produce a voltage ramp from the first voltage level to the second voltage level. The voltage regulator is further operable to transition the operating voltage from the first voltage level to the second voltage level at a same ramp rate as the voltage ramp and with a lag between the voltage ramp and the transition in the operating voltage.

Abstract: A switching power converter includes a phase operable to deliver a phase current to a load through an inductor. The phase current has an expected sawtooth or triangular ripple pattern. The switching power converter further includes a measuring unit operable to measure the phase current at two or more different points of a switching cycle during which the phase is turned on over a first interval of the switching cycle and turned off over a second interval of the switching cycle. The switching power converter also includes an analysis unit operable to determine whether the phase is faulty based on the phase current measurements taken at the two or more different points of the switching cycle. A corresponding method of detecting a phase fault in a switching power converter is also provided.

Abstract: A phase current estimator for a switching power converter includes analog circuitry for generating a phase current estimate error by comparing a phase current of the switching power converter to an analog representation of an estimate of the phase current. The phase current estimator further includes digital circuitry for revising the phase current estimate based on the phase current estimate error and a plurality of parameters associated with operation of the switching power converter. An estimator fault detection unit is provided for determining whether a difference between the phase current and estimate exceeds a threshold for indicating substandard phase current estimation.