Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator having including a plurality of slaves coupled in parallel. Each slave includes a switching circuit that intermittently couples an input terminal and an output terminal of the voltage regulator in response to a digital control signal for the corresponding slave. A current sensor in each slave generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the corresponding switching circuit. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals from the plurality of slaves to generate a digital control signal for each slave. The digital controller operates active slaves of the plurality of slaves at determined phase offsets to minimize voltage ripple and maintain the output voltage at the output terminal at a substantially constant level.

Abstract: A semiconductor package has a printed circuit board, an integrated circuit chip on the printed circuit board with an exposed semiconductor die, and a rigid structure secured to the printed circuit board and enclosing the exposed semiconductor die. The exposed surface of the semiconductor die placed is in thermal contact with an inner surface of the rigid structure with a compressible material.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for use in a control system. The controller includes a first gain element configured to provide a first predetermined gain to an output error signal describing an error in the output of the control system; a compensator including a control loop including a storage element, the control loop receiving the output error signal, a second gain element configured to provide a second predetermined gain to the output of the control loop, and a detector configured to modify the contents of the storage element according to a predetermined adjustment value when a minimum predetermined excursion occurs in the output error signal; and a combiner configured to combine the outputs of the first and second gain elements to produce an output control signal for the control system.

Abstract: An integrated circuit structure with a first layer that has a first conductive area and a second conductive area that is electrically isolated from the first area, and a second layer that has a third conductive area and a fourth conductive area that is electrically isolated from the third area. An edge of the first conductive area has an extended region that protrudes into the second conductive area. An edge of the fourth conductive area has an extended region that protrudes into the third conductive area. The first area is electrically coupled to the fourth area, and the second area is electrically coupled to the third area.

Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital control signal.

Abstract: A method for use with a switch having a field-effect transistor (FET). The method includes restricting the drain-source voltage of the FET to a predetermined range, and then switching the FET. In general, in one aspect, the invention features a circuit having source, drain and gate terminals. The circuit includes a first FET having a first drain coupled to the drain terminal and a first source coupled to the source terminal, a second FET having a second drain coupled to the drain terminal and a second source coupled to the source terminal, and a control circuit coupled to the gate terminal, the first gate, and the second gate.

Abstract: A switching regulator that has first, second, third and fourth terminals, a first power transistor disposed between the first terminal and a first node, a second power transistor disposed between the first node and a second node, a filter including a capacitor and an inductor, and a controller. The first power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable first transistor segments. The second node couples the second and fourth terminals. The second power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable second transistor segments. The inductor is disposed between the first node and the third terminal, and the capacitor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor connecting the input terminal to an intermediate terminal, a second transistor connecting the intermediate terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first and second transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal between the input terminal and ground, and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. The controller drives the two transistors with different gate voltage, and the two transistors can have different gate oxide layer thicknesses.

Abstract: A switching regulator that has first, second, third and fourth terminals, a first power transistor disposed between the first terminal and a first node, a second power transistor disposed between the first node and a second node, a filter including a capacitor and an inductor, and a controller. The first power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable first transistor segments. The second node couples the second and fourth terminals. The second power transistor is partitioned into a plurality of individually-addressable second transistor segments. The inductor is disposed between the first node and the third terminal, and the capacitor is disposed between the third and fourth terminals.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor connecting the input terminal to an intermediate terminal, a second transistor connecting the intermediate terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first and second transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal between the input terminal and ground, and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. The controller drives the two transistors with different gate voltage, and the two transistors can have different gate oxide layer thicknesses.

Abstract: A digitally implemented voltage regulator in which a switching circuit intermittently couples the input terminal and the output terminal in response to a digital control signal. A current sensor generates a digital first feedback signal derived from the current passing through the switching circuit, and a voltage sensor generates a digital second feedback signal derived from the output voltage. A digital controller receives and uses the digital feedback signals to generate the digital control signal.

Abstract: A circuit, and a method and computer program product for use with a switch having a field-effect transistor (FET). The method and computer program product include restricting the drain-source voltage of the FET to a predetermined range; and then switching the FET. In general, in one aspect, the invention features a circuit having source, drain and gate terminals. The circuit includes a first FET having a first drain coupled to the drain terminal and a first source coupled to the source terminal; a second FET having a second drain coupled to the drain terminal and a second source coupled to the source terminal; and a control circuit coupled to the gate terminal, the first gate, and the second gate.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor to intermittently form an electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal, a rectifier connecting an intermediate terminal in the electrical circuit between the input terminal and the output terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first transistor, and a capacitorless filter. Capacitance for the filter function can be provided by a capacitor, e.g., the input capacitor of the load, located in the load chip or on the same printed circuit board as the load chip. The capacitorless filter can include an inductor connected between the intermediate terminal and the output terminal, or the inductance can be provided by parasitic effects in the connections between the voltage regulator and load.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method, apparatus, and computer program product for use within a voltage regulator. It includes deactivating the voltage regulator; and periodically activating the voltage regulator to monitor and selectively refresh the output of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A voltage regulator with an input terminal and an output terminal has a printed circuit board, a substrate mounted on the printed circuit board, and a first flip-chip type integrated circuit chip mounted on the substrate. The first integrated circuit chip includes a first power switch fabricated therein to alternately couple and decouple the input terminal to the output terminal. A filter is disposed to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal, and a control circuit controls the power switch to maintain the DC voltage substantially constant.

Abstract: A controller and apparatus for use in a control system. The controller includes a first gain element configured to provide a first predetermined gain to an output error signal describing an error in the output of the control system; a compensator including a control loop including a storage element, the control loop receiving the output error signal, a second gain element configured to provide a second predetermined gain to the output of the control loop, and a detector configured to modify the contents of the storage element according to a predetermined adjustment value when a minimum predetermined excursion occurs in the output error signal; and a combiner configured to combine the outputs of the first and second gain elements to produce an output control signal for the control system.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a current passing through a load. The sensor has a power transistor having a first terminal connected to substantially constant voltage and a second terminal connected to the load. The sensor can sample a voltage difference with a variable capacitor, and a controller can be configured to cause a variable capacitor in the current sensor to have a capacitance inversely proportional to a resistance of the power transistor, whereby a charge stored on the variable capacitor is proportional to the current passing through the power transistor when the sampling switches are opened. A comparator can compare the current through the power transistor to a known reference current to generate a digital output signal. The sensor can include a power transistor, reference transistor and amplifier connected and configured so as to generate a signal on a reference line having a current of known proportion to the current passing through the load.

Abstract: A circuit, and a method and computer program product for use with a switch having a field-effect transistor (FET). The method and computer program product include restricting the drain-source voltage of the FET to a predetermined range; and then switching the FET. In general, in one aspect, the invention features a circuit having source, drain and gate terminals. The circuit includes a first FET having a first drain coupled to the drain terminal and a first source coupled to the source terminal; a second FET having a second drain coupled to the drain terminal and a second source coupled to the source terminal; and a control circuit coupled to the gate terminal, the first gate, and the second gate.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for use in a control system. The controller includes a first gain element configured to provide a first predetermined gain to an output error signal describing an error in the output of the control system; a compensator including a control loop including a storage element, the control loop receiving the output error signal, a second gain element configured to provide a second predetermined gain to the output of the control loop, and a detector configured to modify the contents of the storage element according to a predetermined adjustment value when a minimum predetermined excursion occurs in the output error signal; and a combiner configured to combine the outputs of the first and second gain elements to produce an output control signal for the control system.

Abstract: A voltage regulator has an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor connecting the input terminal to an intermediate terminal, a second transistor connecting the intermediate terminal to ground, a controller that drives the first and second transistors to alternately couple the intermediate terminal between the input terminal and ground, and a filter disposed between the input terminal and the output terminal to provide a substantially DC voltage at the output terminal. The controller drives the two transistors with different gate voltage, and the two transistors can have different gate oxide layer thicknesses.