Abstract: A multi-phase converter comprising 2N+1 inductors; and 2N+1 switching converters parallel connected and each including a switched node; wherein N is an even integer, a pair of said inductors are coupled and wound about a common core and each said coupled inductor is connected at one pole thereof to a respective switched node and at another pole thereof to an output node, and at least one of said inductors is uncoupled from the other inductors.

Abstract: A headroom compensation circuit for a voltage converter for ensuring that there is adequate headroom voltage to enable accurate operation of the current sense amplifier sensing the output current of the converter, the headroom compensation circuit comprising an error amplifier for comparing an output voltage of the converter to a reference voltage to set the converter output voltage; and a circuit for providing a bias current to an input of the error amplifier when a supply voltage to the current sense amplifier within a predefined threshold of the converter output voltage to cause the error amplifier to reduce the converter output voltage thereby to increase the headroom voltage for the current sense amplifier, said headroom voltage being defined as a voltage between the supply voltage to the current sense amplifier and said converter output voltage.

Abstract: A circuit for preventing inductor saturation during a step-up load transient in a multi-phase converter circuit where phases are turned ON sequentially by a shared clock signal with a fixed phase shift, each phase having high- and low-side switches series connected at a switching node, the circuit including at least one closed loop connected to at least one phase for providing ripple current cancellation in input and output sides of the multi-phase converter circuit; an oscillator circuit for providing a signal to turn ON and OFF the high- and low-side switches of each of the phases of the multi-phase converter circuit; and a detection circuit to detect the transient. The detect circuit includes an error amplifier circuit to receive input signals from an output of the multi-phase converter and to provide an error signal; and a clock oscillator frequency changing circuit receiving the error signal for increasing the clock oscillation frequency when said detection circuit detects a step-up load transient.

Abstract: A control circuit for a multi-phase converter including an analog front-end circuit for receiving and processing an output voltage and current of the converter circuits and an average output current; a digital circuit for producing an output voltage reference for setting a desired output voltage of the converter; and an error circuit for comparing the output voltage reference and a parameter related to said output voltage and current for generating control signals for controlling the converter circuits, said error circuit including an Analog to Digital Converter circuit, further comprising a digital PWM generation circuit controlled by said Analog to Digital converter circuit for generating digital control signals for controlling the converter circuits.

Abstract: A multi-phase converter comprising a plurality of switching circuits each controlled by a phase controller and each providing a switched output voltage to an output node of the converter and wherein each switching circuit under control of the phase controller sequentially provides a switched output voltage to the output node at which an output voltage of the converter is developed; and a main control circuit including a clock circuit for providing a first clock signal to each of the switching circuits and a second lower frequency clock signal to a first of the phase controllers, each phase controller having a delay circuit controlled by the first clock signal to provide a delayed second clock signal for coupling to a next one of the phase controllers and in the case of a last one of the phase controllers, back to the main control circuit, whereby a plurality of sequentially delayed second clock signals is provided, one to each of the remaining phase controllers after the first phase controller to determine wh

Abstract: A multi-phase buck converter comprising a plurality of output switch arrangements each comprising a high side switch and a low side switch connected in series across a DC voltage and having a common connection coupled through a respective output inductor to a converter output node at which a converter output voltage is provided; a plurality of circuit arrangements providing pulse width modulated control signals to the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement for regulating the converter output voltage; a control arrangement providing a timing signal for controlling the start of conduction times of the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement and for providing an error signal related to a difference between the converter output voltage and a reference signal; a current sense arrangement coupled to each output inductor for providing a phase current signal related to the phase current provided by the respective output switch arrangement through the respective out

Abstract: A power supply for powering an electrical load, the electrical load generating load characteristic data that determines a power supply characteristic to be provided to the electrical load from the power supply, the power supply comprising a voltage regulator for generating an output voltage to be provided as the input voltage for powering the electrical load, the voltage regulator being responsive to a reference signal for setting a characteristic of the power supply, and a control circuit for generating the reference signal for the regulator, the control circuit being responsive to the load characteristic data from the electrical load and to a selection input for selecting the type of electrical load from a plurality of electrical load types, whereby the selection input determines the type of electrical load to enable the load characteristic data to be evaluated by the control circuit to generate the reference signal for the regulator.

Abstract: A multi-stage voltage converter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a first stage converter operable to convert an input voltage into a first output voltage, at least one second stage converter operable to receive the first output voltage from the first stage converter and to provide a second output voltage and a control circuit operable to control both the first stage converter and the second stage converter. The control circuit may independently control the first stage converter and the second stage converter using closed loop feedback. Alternatively, the control circuit may control the first stage converter such that the first stage converter has a constant duty cycle. In another embodiment, the control circuit may control the first stage converter such that the first stage converter has a duty cycle that follows the duty cycle of the second stage converter.

Abstract: A multi-phase converter comprising a plurality of switching circuits each providing a switched voltage to an output node of the converter and wherein each switching circuit sequentially provides a switched output voltage to the output node at which an output voltage of the converter is developed; a clock circuit for providing a plurality of out of phase clock signals to the switching circuits to determine when each switching circuit provides the switched voltage to the output node; each switching circuit comprising first and second series connected switches connected across a DC voltage bus; further comprising a first circuit comparing a first signal proportional to a difference between the output voltage of the converter at the output node with a second signal comprising a first reference voltage with a second signal comprising a ramp signal and for producing a pulse width modulated signal to control the on-times of the switches of the connected switching circuit; further comprising a second circuit comparin

Abstract: A multi-phase buck converter comprising a plurality of output switch arrangements each comprising a high side switch and a low side switch connected in series across a DC voltage and having a common connection coupled through a respective output inductor to a converter output node at which a converter output voltage is provided; a plurality of circuit arrangements providing pulse width modulated control signals to the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement for regulating the converter output voltage; a control arrangement providing a timing signal for controlling the start of conduction times of the high side and low side switches of each output switch arrangement and for providing an error signal related to a difference between the converter output voltage and a reference signal; a current sense arrangement coupled to each output inductor for providing a phase current signal related to the phase current provided by the respective output switch arrangement through the respective out

Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.

Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.

Abstract: A power supply for powering an electrical load, the electrical load generating load characteristic data that determines a power supply characteristic to be provided to the electrical load from the power supply, the power supply comprising a voltage regulator for generating an output voltage to be provided as the input voltage for powering the electrical load, the voltage regulator being responsive to a reference signal for setting a characteristic of the power supply, and a control circuit for generating the reference signal for the regulator, the control circuit being responsive to the load characteristic data from the electrical load and to a selection input for selecting the type of electrical load from a plurality of electrical load types, whereby the selection input determines the type of electrical load to enable the load characteristic data to be evaluated by the control circuit to generate the reference signal for the regulator.

Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.

Abstract: A buck converter is provided for providing an output voltage to a load, the output voltage being produced from an input voltage in accordance with a desired voltage.

Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.

Abstract: A buck converter is provided for providing an output voltage to a load, the output voltage being produced from an input voltage in accordance with a desired voltage.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection apparatus (50) and method for switch-mode power supplies (10) immediately clamps the peak power supply current when a sensed current magnitude exceeds a threshold current magnitude, reduces the threshold current magnitude if the overcurrent condition persists, and automatically attempts a restart of the power supply (10) to normal operation.

Abstract: A buck converter for providing an output voltage to a load, including a plurality of output switch arrangements having respective output inductors coupled to an output capacitor, the switch arrangements being controllable to provide phase output currents to the output capacitor; a plurality of phase output arrangements respectively coupled to the output switch arrangements, the phase output arrangements being controllable to set the respective phase output currents supplied by the output, switch arrangements; a phase control bus communicatively coupled to each of the phase output arrangements; and a phase control arrangement communicatively coupled to the phase control bus, the phase control arrangement being configured to control the phase output arrangements to set the respective phase output currents so that the output voltage approximates the desired voltage; wherein the phase control arrangement and the phase output arrangements are provided as respective integrated circuits.

Abstract: A switching power supply produces a regulated output voltage. An output inductor is connected at one end to a power switch circuit having a duty cycle. The other end of the output inductor has a regulated output voltage. A voltage feedback circuit produces a voltage feedback signal representative of the regulated output voltage. A current feedback circuit produces a composite signal representative of inductor current, the composite signal having an ac component and a dc component. An error amplifier produces an error signal representative of the difference between a reference voltage and the voltage feedback signal. A pulse width modulator comparator compares the error signal to a composite signal representing a summing of the voltage feedback signal with a current sensing signal representative of output inductor current, the composite signal having an ac component and a dc component.