Abstract: A trans-inductor voltage regulator (TLVR) includes at least two voltage converter phases configured to receive a common input voltage and to provide an output voltage on an output of the voltage converter, an associated coupled inductor, and a compensation inductor. Each coupled inductor includes a primary winding magnetically coupled to a secondary winding. For each primary winding, a first terminal is coupled to the output of the associated voltage converter, and a second terminal of the primary winding is coupled to a load. A first terminal of the compensation inductor is coupled to a ground plane, and each secondary winding is coupled in series with the compensation inductor, with a last secondary being coupled to the ground plane. The compensation inductor is a nonlinear inductor exhibiting a first inductance level at a first current level, and a second inductance level different from the first inductance level at a second current level different from the first current level.

Abstract: A trans-inductor voltage regulator (TLVR) includes at least two voltage converter phases configured to receive a common input voltage and to provide an output voltage on an output of the voltage converter, an associated coupled inductor, and a compensation inductor. Each coupled inductor includes a primary winding magnetically coupled to a secondary winding. For each primary winding, a first terminal is coupled to the output of the associated voltage converter, and a second terminal of the primary winding is coupled to a load. A first terminal of the compensation inductor is coupled to a ground plane, and each secondary winding is coupled in series with the compensation inductor, with a last secondary being coupled to the ground plane. The compensation inductor is a nonlinear inductor exhibiting a first inductance level at a first current level, and a second inductance level different from the first inductance level at a second current level different from the first current level.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for detecting short circuits in a load are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a short circuit detection system includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a controller. The first circuit has an output and an input coupled to a load and an auxiliary power source through a resistor, while the second circuit is configured to enable an output of the short circuit detection circuit for a specified period of time following application of auxiliary power at the auxiliary power source. The controller includes computer-executable instructions to monitor the output of the first circuit, and allow or disallow a main power source from powering the load based upon whether a short circuit condition exists.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for detecting short circuits in a load are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a short circuit detection system includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a controller. The first circuit has an output and an input coupled to a load and an auxiliary power source through a resistor, while the second circuit is configured to enable an output of the short circuit detection circuit for a specified period of time following application of auxiliary power at the auxiliary power source. The controller includes computer-executable instructions to monitor the output of the first circuit, and allow or disallow a main power source from powering the load based upon whether a short circuit condition exists.

Abstract: A power stage includes a power converter having high- and low-side switches, a driver circuit that drives the switching power converter based upon a PWM signal, and a current sensing circuit that detects a low-side current level on the low-side switch, and provides a current level signal that includes the low-side current level. The power stage turns on the low-side switch at a first time, and estimates a first low-side current level at the first time. In estimating the first low-side current level, the power stage detects a second low-side current level at a second time while the low-side switch is turned on, the second time being after the first time, and detects a third low-side current level at a third time while the low-side switch is turned on, wherein the third time is after the second time. The first low-side current level is estimated based upon the second and third low-side current levels.

Abstract: A power stage includes a power converter having high- and low-side switches, a driver circuit that drives the switching power converter based upon a PWM signal, and a current sensing circuit that detects a low-side current level on the low-side switch, and provides a current level signal that includes the low-side current level. The power stage turns on the low-side switch at a first time, and estimates a first low-side current level at the first time. In estimating the first low-side current level, the power stage detects a second low-side current level at a second time while the low-side switch is turned on, the second time being after the first time, and detects a third low-side current level at a third time while the low-side switch is turned on, wherein the third time is after the second time. The first low-side current level is estimated based upon the second and third low-side current levels.

Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies are each configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, to provide input power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are receiving good input power, and to provide a output power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are providing good power to the power rail. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail. The hold-up signal is based upon the input power indications and upon the output power indications.

Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second power supplies. The first power supply unit provides power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, and is configured to provide the power to the power rail at a first peak current level and at a first constant current level. The second power supply unit provides power to the power rail, and is configured to provide the power to the power rail at a second peak current level and at a second constant current level. The second peak current level is greater than the first peak current level, and the second constant current level is greater than the first constant current level.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU is coupled to the power rail, and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power.

Abstract: An information handling system includes active and standby power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies provide power to a power rail. The standby power supply supplies current to the power rail when a current demanded by a load is greater than a proportion of a maximum current demand, and is off when the current demand is less than the proportion. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a current level indication that indicates the current demanded by the load, and in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demand peaks to greater than the proportion of the maximum current demand, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail to prevent the second power supply unit from turning on.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes power stages and a controller. The power stages are configured to provide power to a load in response to a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal and to provide a body braking to the load in response to a body braking signal. The body braking is provided via a body diode of the power stage. The controller is configured to provide the PWM signals to a first power stage and a second power stage based upon a power demand of the load, to provide body braking signals to the first power stage and the second power stage in response to an over-voltage condition on the load, and to suspend the first body braking signal to the first power stage and maintain the second body braking signal to the second power stage, in response to an over-temperature condition on the first power stage.

Abstract: An information handling system includes active and standby power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies provide power to a power rail. The standby power supply supplies current to the power rail when a current demanded by a load is greater than a proportion of a maximum current demand, and is off when the current demand is less than the proportion. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a current level indication that indicates the current demanded by the load, and in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demand peaks to greater than the proportion of the maximum current demand, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail to prevent the second power supply unit from turning on.

Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second power supplies. The first power supply unit provides power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, and is configured to provide the power to the power rail at a first peak current level and at a first constant current level. The second power supply unit provides power to the power rail, and is configured to provide the power to the power rail at a second peak current level and at a second constant current level. The second peak current level is greater than the first peak current level, and the second constant current level is greater than the first constant current level.

Abstract: An information handling system includes first and second power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies are each configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, to provide input power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are receiving good input power, and to provide a output power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are providing good power to the power rail. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail. The hold-up signal is based upon the input power indications and upon the output power indications.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU is coupled to the power rail, and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power.

Abstract: Systems and methods for individual phase temperature monitoring and balance control in a multi-phase voltage regulator may include a plurality of smart power stages including a first smart power stage and a second smart power stage and a voltage regulator controller. The voltage regulator controller may send a first control signal to the first smart power stage to enable the first smart power stage to send a first temperature of the first smart power stage to the voltage regulator controller during a first phase of a switching cycle. The voltage regulator controller may also determine that the first temperature received by the voltage regulator controller corresponds to the first smart power stage based on the first control signal. The voltage regulator controller may further send a second control signal to the second smart power stage to enable the second smart power stage to send a second temperature to the voltage regulator controller during a second phase.

Abstract: Systems and methods for individual phase temperature monitoring and balance control in a multi-phase voltage regulator may include a plurality of smart power stages including a first smart power stage and a second smart power stage and a voltage regulator controller. The voltage regulator controller may send a first control signal to the first smart power stage to enable the first smart power stage to send a first temperature of the first smart power stage to the voltage regulator controller during a first phase of a switching cycle. The voltage regulator controller may also determine that the first temperature received by the voltage regulator controller corresponds to the first smart power stage based on the first control signal. The voltage regulator controller may further send a second control signal to the second smart power stage to enable the second smart power stage to send a second temperature to the voltage regulator controller during a second phase.

Abstract: Systems and methods for individual phase temperature monitoring and balance control in a multi-phase voltage regulator may include a plurality of smart power stages including a first smart power stage and a second smart power stage and a voltage regulator controller. The voltage regulator controller may send a first control signal to the first smart power stage to enable the first smart power stage to send a first temperature of the first smart power stage to the voltage regulator controller during a first phase of a switching cycle. The voltage regulator controller may also determine that the first temperature received by the voltage regulator controller corresponds to the first smart power stage based on the first control signal. The voltage regulator controller may further send a second control signal to the second smart power stage to enable the second smart power stage to send a second temperature to the voltage regulator controller during a second phase.

Abstract: A battery backup unit for supplying electrical energy in response to a power event affecting an ability of a power supply unit to deliver electrical energy may be configured to, in response to the power event, generate a regulated output voltage having a first voltage magnitude for a first period of time to limit power generated by the battery backup unit to a first power magnitude during the first period of time, and after the first period of time, generate the output voltage having a second voltage magnitude lesser than the first voltage magnitude for a second period of time to limit power generated by the battery backup unit to a second power magnitude lesser than the first power magnitude, wherein the second power magnitude is a function of a continuous maximum power supported by the battery backup unit based on characteristics of the battery backup unit.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes power stages and a controller. The power stages are configured to provide power to a load in response to a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal and to provide a body braking to the load in response to a body braking signal. The body braking is provided via a body diode of the power stage. The controller is configured to provide the PWM signals to a first power stage and a second power stage based upon a power demand of the load, to provide body braking signals to the first power stage and the second power stage in response to an over-voltage condition on the load, and to suspend the first body braking signal to the first power stage and maintain the second body braking signal to the second power stage, in response to an over-temperature condition on the first power stage.