Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for voltage regulation in a coupled inductor topology. Embodiments comprise a switching voltage regulator that is responsive to a light load signal from the device to which power is supplied. When the light load signal indicates that the device is not in a light load condition, the voltage regulator exhibits a low resistance to reduce I2R losses. When the light load signal indicates that the device is in a light load condition, the voltage regulator exhibits a higher resistance but lower capacitive losses within. In some embodiments, a first set of switches enables an inductor to charge through switches of the first set and a second set of switches enables the inductor to discharge through switches of the second set. The number of switches and their associated drivers in a set that are placed in a continuously-off state depends upon whether the device is in a light load condition or not.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter may include a modulation circuit to dynamically control a variable switching frequency of the power converter based on an error voltage of the power converter. The power converter may also include a control circuit connected to the modulation circuit and arranged to dynamically limit an inductor current in the power converter while the switching frequency of the power converter changes. A variable limit on the inductor current may be based on the error voltage of the power converter, a load current of the power converter, or information from a power manager of a system in which the power converter resides. In some implementations, the power converter may also include a disabling circuit to control the modulation circuit to disable the variable switching frequency when a sufficiently large load transient is detected.

Abstract: A controller for a power stage may adaptively control power switches to improve the efficiency of power consumption by the power stage and detect continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) and discontinuous conduction mode (“DCM”) operations of the power stage without instantaneous or cycle by cycle sensing and sampling of the output inductor current. Additionally, the controller may be used to facilitate the estimation of output inductor value, the peak inductor current value, and other information on converter operations.

Abstract: Current sharing scheme based on input power and/or the power efficiency for a power stage with multiple phases and/or paralleled modules is described. According to the scheme, duty cycles of different phases/modules may be adaptively adjusted until the minimum input power and/or the maximum power efficiency is achieved. For certain input voltages, the minimum input power exists at the minimum total input current. Thus, input power and/or the input current may be used as an indicator of the maximized power efficiency of the power stage and hence be used to track the optimal current sharing ratio among the multiple phases/modules.

Abstract: A controller for a power stage may adaptively control power switches to improve the efficiency of power consumption by the power stage and detect continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) and discontinuous conduction mode (“DCM”) operations of the power stage without instantaneous or cycle by cycle sensing and sampling of the output inductor current. Additionally, the controller may be used to facilitate the estimation of output inductor value, the peak inductor current value, and other information on converter operations.

Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for voltage regulation in a coupled inductor topology. Embodiments comprise a switching voltage regulator that is responsive to a light load signal from the device to which power is supplied. When the light load signal indicates that the device is not in a light load condition, the voltage regulator exhibits a low resistance to reduce I2R losses. When the light load signal indicates that the device is in a light load condition, the voltage regulator exhibits a higher resistance but lower capacitive losses within. In some embodiments, a first set of switches enables an inductor to charge through switches of the first set and a second set of switches enables the inductor to discharge through switches of the second set. The number of switches and their associated drivers in a set that are placed in a continuously-off state depends upon whether the device is in a light load condition or not.

Abstract: A switching mode power converter may include a modulation circuit to dynamically control a variable switching frequency of the power converter based on an error voltage of the power converter. The power converter may also include a control circuit connected to the modulation circuit and arranged to dynamically limit an inductor current in the power converter while the switching frequency of the power converter changes. A variable limit on the inductor current may be based on the error voltage of the power converter, a load current of the power converter, or information from a power manager of a system in which the power converter resides. In some implementations, the power converter may also include a disabling circuit to control the modulation circuit to disable the variable switching frequency when a sufficiently large load transient is detected.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, information about a power delivery stage is determined for a plurality of operating condition values. The determined information may then be stored in a dynamic look-up table of an adaptive tracking controller engine according to some embodiments. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: Current sharing scheme based on input power and/or the power efficiency for a power stage with multiple phases and/or paralleled modules is described. According to the scheme, duty cycles of different phases/modules may be adaptively adjusted until the minimum input power and/or the maximum power efficiency is achieved. For certain input voltages, the minimum input power exists at the minimum total input current. Thus, input power and/or the input current may be used as an indicator of the maximized power efficiency of the power stage and hence be used to track the optimal current sharing ratio among the multiple phases/modules.

Abstract: A controller for a power stage may adaptively control power switches to improve the efficiency of power consumption by the power stage and detect continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) and discontinuous conduction mode (“DCM”) operations of the power stage without instantaneous or cycle by cycle sensing and sampling of the output inductor current. Additionally, the controller may be used to facilitate the estimation of output inductor value, the peak inductor current value, and other information on converter operations.

Abstract: In some embodiments a difference between duty cycles of at least two different phases in a power conversion device is tracked, and current is shared between the at least two different phases in response to the dynamic tracking. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides voltage regulator configured to exchange commands and data with a power management engine. A method according to one embodiment may include generating, by a voltage regulator, at least one state signal indicative of the operational parameters of the voltage regulator; transmitting, by the voltage regulator, the at least one state signal to a power management engine; generating, by the power management engine, at least one power management signal based on, at least in part, the at least one state signal; transmitting, by the power management engine, the at least one power management signal to the voltage regulator; and controlling the operation of the voltage regulator based on, at least in part, the at least one power management signal. Of course, many alternatives, variations and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a switching mode power converter has an input and an output. The switching mode power converter may be configured to transition between a continuous conduction mode at a first load level and a discontinuous conduction mode at a second load level, where the second load level is lower than the first load level. A control circuit may be connected to the switching mode power converter, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the switching frequency of the switching mode power converter during the transition between the continuous conduction mode and the discontinuous conduction mode in accordance with maintaining low voltage deviation with respect to a reference voltage. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a power device configuration along with adaptive control mechanisms are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise multiple power switching devices. One or more of the power switching devices may be selected and/or operated for dynamically controlling the overall or equivalent parasitic effects according to usage conditions or performance under demand. The usage conditions may comprise, for example, load conditions, switching frequency conditions, driver voltage/current, and/or input voltage which affect the power consumption of the power device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods system and devices for using alternated duty cycle control to achieve soft-switching for at least one switch of the two half-bridge switches. When soft-switching can be only achieved for one switch, alternated duty cycle control alternates the soft-switching between the two switches so that each switch is soft-switched during half of the time and hard-switched during the other half, keeping equal power losses distribution between the switches. When alternated duty cycle control is used, any asymmetry in the duty cycle does not cause asymmetric components stresses or transformer DC bias.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first transformer that has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is coupled to a first secondary side. A second transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is coupled to a second secondary side. The primary windings of the first and second transformers are coupled in parallel to a primary side through respective windings of a transformer that has inverse coupled windings. The secondary windings of the first and second transformer are coupled in parallel. The second secondary side is interleaved with the first secondary side.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods system and devices for using alternated duty cycle control to achieve soft-switching for at least one switch of the two half-bridge switches. When soft-switching can be only achieved for one switch, alternated duty cycle control alternates the soft-switching between the two switches so that each switch is soft-switched during half of the time and hard-switched during the other half, keeping equal power losses distribution between the switches. When alternated duty cycle control is used, any asymmetry in the duty cycle does not cause asymmetric components stresses or transformer DC bias.

Abstract: A coupled-inductor current-doubler topology for a power converter has first and second rectifiers and first and second coupled inductors. Each coupled inductor has a main inductor inductively coupled with a secondary inductor. The secondary inductor of the first coupled inductor is coupled in series with one of the first and second rectifiers and the secondary inductor of the second coupled inductor coupled in series with the other one of the first and second rectifiers.

Abstract: A coupled-inductor current-doubler topology for a power converter has first and second rectifiers and first and second coupled inductors. Each coupled inductor has a main inductor inductively coupled with a secondary inductor. The secondary inductor of the first coupled inductor is coupled in series with one of the first and second rectifiers and the secondary inductor of the second coupled inductor coupled in series with the other one of the first and second rectifiers.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first transformer that has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is coupled to a first secondary side. A second transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is coupled to a second secondary side. The primary windings of the first and second transformers are coupled in parallel to a primary side through respective windings of a transformer that has inverse coupled windings. The secondary windings of the first and second transformer are coupled in parallel. The second secondary side is interleaved with the first secondary side.