Abstract: Thermal mitigation using current redistribution is disclosed. A power converter includes plurality of phases configured to provide a demand current to a load circuit. The power converter further includes a control circuit configured to activate selected ones of the plurality of phases based on the demand current. A plurality of temperature sensors distributed among the plurality of phases. A state machine is coupled to receive temperature readings from ones of the plurality of temperature sensors. The state machine is configured to cause the control circuit to increase a number of active ones of the plurality of phases in response to receiving a temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors that exceeds a first temperature threshold.

Abstract: A switching converter can provide an output voltage for a subsystem. A successive approximation analog to digital converter (ADC) can receive an error input based on a difference between the output voltage and a target voltage for the subsystem. The ADC can utilize a successive approximation register (SAR) and a charge scaling digital to analog converter (DAC) to generate a digital output representing the error input to adjust the switching converter. An offset controller can provide an offset value to the ADC to counter an offset error in the power management system. The ADC can alternate between utilizing the offset value and utilizing an output of the SAR to generate the digital output. Further, a range controller can adjust a voltage range, utilized by the ADC to generate the digital output, based on the error input. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A switching converter can provide an output voltage for a subsystem. A successive approximation analog to digital converter (ADC) can receive an error input based on a difference between the output voltage and a target voltage for the subsystem. The ADC can utilize a successive approximation register (SAR) and a charge scaling digital to analog converter (DAC) to generate a digital output representing the error input to adjust the switching converter. An offset controller can provide an offset value to the ADC to counter an offset error in the power management system. The ADC can alternate between utilizing the offset value and utilizing an output of the SAR to generate the digital output. Further, a range controller can adjust a voltage range, utilized by the ADC to generate the digital output, based on the error input. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A power converter with slew rate detection is disclosed. A power converter comprises a plurality of phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding ones of a plurality of inductors. A first control loop generates, using digital samples and based on comparisons of a reference voltage to a voltage on the regulated power supply line, a first plurality of control signals. A second control loop, using the digital samples, generates a second plurality of control signals based on a rate of change of the voltage of the regulated power supply line. The second control loop causes the first control loop to control the plurality of phase circuits in response to detecting that the rate of change is within a specified range, and causes the second control loop to control the plurality of phase circuits, in response to detecting that the rate of change exceeds the specified range.

Abstract: Thermal mitigation using current redistribution is disclosed. A power converter includes plurality of phases configured to provide a demand current to a load circuit. The power converter further includes a control circuit configured to activate selected ones of the plurality of phases based on the demand current. A plurality of temperature sensors distributed among the plurality of phases. A state machine is coupled to receive temperature readings from ones of the plurality of temperature sensors. The state machine is configured to cause the control circuit to increase a number of active ones of the plurality of phases in response to receiving a temperature reading from one of the temperature sensors that exceeds a first temperature threshold.

Abstract: Phase reassignment among power converters is disclosed. Multi-phase power converters of a plurality are arranged such that the various phases of each can be shared. When a given power converter has a high demand current and a phase of another power converter in the same group is currently unused, that phase may be borrowed by the given power converter to meet the demand current. The power converter that borrows a phase from another power converter is designated as the leader, while the borrowed phase is designated as a follower. The regulated supply voltage is determined by the leader power converter, irrespective of the regulated output voltage to be generated by the power converter from which another phase is borrowed.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding one of multiple inductors. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply line using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.

Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system regulates a power supply voltage used by other circuits in the computer system. During operation, the power converter circuit monitors the load current, and, in response to a transient in the load current, switches regulation modes to adapt to the new load conditions. Upon a detection of the end of the transient in the load current, the power converter returns to its original regulation mode.

Abstract: A power converter with slew rate detection is disclosed. A power converter comprises a plurality of phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding ones of a plurality of inductors. A first control loop generates, using digital samples and based on comparisons of a reference voltage to a voltage on the regulated power supply line, a first plurality of control signals. A second control loop, using the digital samples, generates a second plurality of control signals based on a rate of change of the voltage of the regulated power supply line. The second control loop causes the first control loop to control the plurality of phase circuits in response to detecting that the rate of change is within a specified range, and causes the second control loop to control the plurality of phase circuits, in response to detecting that the rate of change exceeds the specified range.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may generate a voltage level on a power supply signal using a source power supply signal and based initial values of one or more operation parameters derived from wafer-level test data. One or more operation characteristics of the voltage regulator circuit may be sampled, by a measurement circuit, at multiple time points to generated measurement data. A control circuit may adapt operation of the voltage regulator circuit based on the measurement data.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply line via corresponding one of multiple inductors. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply line using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits each coupled to a regulated power supply node via a corresponding inductor. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply node using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.

Abstract: A power converter circuit included in a computer system regulates a power supply voltage used by other circuits in the computer system. During operation, the power converter circuit monitors the load current, and, in response to a transient in the load current, switches regulation modes to adapt to the new load conditions. Upon a detection of the end of the transient in the load current, the power converter returns to its original regulation mode.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a control circuit and a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node. The voltage regulator circuit is configured to generate a power signal on the regulated power supply node using a reference voltage level. The apparatus further includes a control circuit that is configured to determine an operating mode using results of a comparison of a threshold value and a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit. The control circuit may be further configured to set, in a first operating mode, the reference voltage level independently of the load current, and set, in a second operating mode, the reference voltage level using the load current.

Abstract: A power converter circuit that includes a switch node coupled to a regulated power supply node via an inductor is configured to regulate a voltage level of a power supply node using a particular one of multiple available operating modes. In response to receiving a command to reduce the voltage level of the power supply node, the power converter circuit begins to reduce the voltage level of the power supply node, while autonomously selecting different ones of available operating modes. The power converter circuit may compare to the voltage level of the power supply node to boundary levels and select a different operating mode when the voltage level of the power supply node exceeds one of the boundaries. By switching operating modes during the negative slew of the voltage level of the power supply node, the power converter may maintain a target efficiency during the reduction in voltage.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits each coupled to a regulated power supply node via a corresponding inductor. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply node using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits each coupled to a regulated power supply node via a corresponding inductor. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply node using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.

Abstract: A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may generate a voltage level on a power supply signal using a source power supply signal and based initial values of one or more operation parameters derived from wafer-level test data. One or more operation characteristics of the voltage regulator circuit may be sampled, by a measurement circuit, at multiple time points to generated measurement data. A control circuit may adapt operation of the voltage regulator circuit based on the measurement data.