Abstract: A device comprises a first comparator to generate a first clock signal based on a reference voltage and a first voltage at an output of a switched-capacitor power converter (SCPC), and a second comparator to generate a first control signal based on the first voltage and a threshold voltage. A sensor is to generate a second control signal based on one of a level of a current of the first clock signal, or a duty cycle of the first clock signal. A frequency divider circuit is to generate a second clock signal based on the first control signal and the second control signal, and in some embodiments, further based on one of the first clock signal or a third clock signal. Controller circuitry is to operate switch circuitry of the SCPC based on the first clock signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a clock generation circuit coupled to a power train (PTR) circuit. The clock generation circuit includes an adaptive delay circuit to generate a first clock signal and a first clock delay signal based on a regulation clock signal. The clock generation circuit includes a fixed time delay circuit to generate a second clock signal and a second clock delay signal based on the regulation clock signal. The PTR circuit is to receive the first clock signal, the second clock signal, the first clock delay signal, and the second clock delay signal. The PTR circuit generates a voltage output signal based on the first clock signal, the second clock signal, the first clock delay signal, and the second clock delay signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a voltage regulator with circuitry to facilitate DCM to CCM transitions are provided to mitigate against excessive voltage droops.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a current source for a waveform generator in a voltage regulator (VR). In one approach, the current source is provided as a switched-capacitor frequency-to-current converter. The current source includes a switching circuit, a continuous-time integrator, and an adaptive multi-stage filter. The switching circuit receives a clock signal which is used to control switches to provide a time-varying voltage and current. The voltage and current are low-pass filtered at the continuous-time integrator before being filtered at the adaptive multi-stage filter. An output current of the adaptive multi-stage filter is then provided as an input current to a waveform generator such as to provide a pulse-width modulation signal for driving a powertrain of the VR. In another aspect, the current source includes a switching circuit and a discrete or digital integrator.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a voltage regulator (VR) circuit which includes first, second and third stages. The first stage VR can operate at a fixed voltage down-conversion ratio to provide an intermediate ground voltage for the second stage VR, which is a continuous capacitive VR (C2VR). The C2VR also receives an input voltage. The third stage VR operates at a voltage down-conversion ratio to provide an output voltage. A set of clock signals with different frequencies is made available to the first stage VR to allow the first stage VR to operate with a peak efficiency according to different stresses placed on the C2VR at different times. The down-conversion ratio of the third stage VR can also be modified during a dynamic bypass mode where the input voltage ramps down to the output voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a switched capacitor power converter which reduces the leakage current through a power switch when the power switch is turned off. In one aspect, a first charge pump provides a voltage Vcc_cp which is higher than a power supply voltage Vcc, and a second charge pump provides a voltage Vss_cp which is lower than a ground voltage Vss. Transistors are used to couple the first charge pump to the control gate of a p-type power switch and to couple the second charge pump to the control gate of an n-type power switch. In another example implementation, the voltage of the power switch is pulled up or down using a bootstrap capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a power converter with an input terminal and an output terminal. The apparatus further includes a first comparator. A first input of the first comparator is coupled to the output terminal of the power converter. The apparatus further includes a reference clock generator. An output of the reference clock generator is coupled to a second input of the first comparator. An input of the reference clock generator is coupled to a frequency comparator.

Abstract: A switched capacitor voltage regulator (SCVR) design, such as a continuous capacitive voltage regulator (C2VR) design, may use capacitors and switches to provide improved cost and space efficiencies. A remote sensing circuit may be used to improve C2VR performance. By adding a remote sensing circuit to the regulation feedback loop within the C2VR circuit design, the C2VR circuit may provide improved accuracy in voltage regulation, such as by providing a correction based on the voltage error between the remote-sensed voltage and the reference target. The remote sensing circuit may also provide transient information for under-voltage detection at an output terminal. This detected transient may become an alternating current (AC) portion of the under-voltage detection threshold, which improves the ability of the C2VR circuit to provide early detection for any under-voltage fault.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a voltage regulator including a clock node to receive an input clock signal, and first and second power switching blocks coupled to the clock node. The first power switching block includes a first clock generator and first switched capacitor circuitry. The first clock generator includes clock output nodes to provide first clock signals based on the input clock signal. The first switched capacitor circuitry includes input nodes to receive first control signals generated based on the first clock signals. The second power switching block includes a second clock generator and second switched capacitor circuitry. The second clock generator includes clock output nodes to provide second clock signals based on the input clock signal. The second switched capacitor circuitry includes input nodes to receive second control signals generated based on the second clock signals.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may include apparatus, systems, techniques, and/or processes that are directed to multiphase power converters and how current level outputs of each phase circuit are calibrated. The multiple phase circuits are grouped into multiple subsets, wherein one phase circuit of each subset is designated as a reference phase circuit. The reference phase circuits of each subset are calibrated together, using, for example, a closed loop daisy chain technique where each reference phase circuit calibrates their current output to the current output of the previous phase circuit, or alternatively, a current averaging technique where each reference phase circuit balances their current output to the average output of the reference phase circuits.

Abstract: A power supply includes a storage component to store an output current value representative of a magnitude of output current supplied by an output voltage of a power converter to power a load. The power supply further includes an offset reference generator and a controller. The offset reference generator produces an offset reference signal, the output current value being offset by the offset reference signal. The controller controls generation of the output voltage of the power converter as a function of the offset output current value with respect to a threshold signal (value). Additionally, the controller is configured to detect a startup mode of a power converter operative to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. During the startup mode, the controller: i) produces a threshold signal having a magnitude that varies over time, and ii) controls operation of switches in the power converter as a function of the threshold signal while the power converter is operated in a diode emulation mode.

Abstract: A device comprises a first comparator to generate a first clock signal based on a reference voltage and a first voltage at an output of a switched-capacitor power converter (SCPC), and a second comparator to generate a first control signal based on the first voltage and a threshold voltage. A sensor is to generate a second control signal based on one of a level of a current of the first clock signal, or a duty cycle of the first clock signal. A frequency divider circuit is to generate a second clock signal based on the first control signal and the second control signal, and in some embodiments, further based on one of the first clock signal or a third clock signal. Controller circuitry is to operate switch circuitry of the SCPC based on the first clock signal.

Abstract: A power supply includes a storage component to store an output current value representative of a magnitude of output current supplied by an output voltage of a power converter to power a load. The power supply further includes an offset reference generator and a controller. The offset reference generator produces an offset reference signal, the output current value being offset by the offset reference signal. The controller controls generation of the output voltage of the power converter as a function of the offset output current value with respect to a threshold signal (value). Additionally, the controller is configured to detect a startup mode of a power converter operative to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. During the startup mode, the controller: i) produces a threshold signal having a magnitude that varies over time, and ii) controls operation of switches in the power converter as a function of the threshold signal while the power converter is operated in a diode emulation mode.

Abstract: A method of implementing a load line in a power converter includes: adjusting a target voltage used to regulate an output voltage of the power converter, based on sensed load current information that has delay between updates; and responsive to detecting a load current transient and before the next update to the sensed load current information becomes available, adjusting the target voltage based on blind load current information. A corresponding controller, power converter and electronic system are also described.

Abstract: A power supply includes a storage component to store an output current value representative of a magnitude of output current supplied by an output voltage of a power converter to power a load. The power supply further includes an offset reference generator and a controller. The offset reference generator produces an offset reference signal, the output current value being offset by the offset reference signal. The controller controls generation of the output voltage of the power converter as a function of the offset output current value with respect to a threshold signal (value). Additionally, the controller is configured to detect a startup mode of a power converter operative to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. During the startup mode, the controller: i) produces a threshold signal having a magnitude that varies over time, and ii) controls operation of switches in the power converter as a function of the threshold signal while the power converter is operated in a diode emulation mode.

Abstract: A power supply includes a storage component to store an output current value representative of a magnitude of output current supplied by an output voltage of a power converter to power a load. The power supply further includes an offset reference generator and a controller. The offset reference generator produces an offset reference signal, the output current value being offset by the offset reference signal. The controller controls generation of the output voltage of the power converter as a function of the offset output current value with respect to a threshold signal (value). Additionally, the controller is configured to detect a startup mode of a power converter operative to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. During the startup mode, the controller: i) produces a threshold signal having a magnitude that varies over time, and ii) controls operation of switches in the power converter as a function of the threshold signal while the power converter is operated in a diode emulation mode.

Abstract: A power supply includes a reference voltage generator, a power supply phase, and an adjustor. During operation, the reference voltage generator produces a reference voltage. The power supply phase produces an output voltage to power a load as a function of an output voltage feedback signal derived from the output voltage and the reference voltage. The adjustor adjusts a magnitude of the reference voltage to maintain regulation of the output voltage with respect to a desired voltage setpoint.

Abstract: A power converter includes a switch, an ON-time controller, and a compensator. Over multiple control cycles, the ON-time controller controls an ON-time duration of a control signal driving the switch. Activation of the switch generates an output voltage that powers a dynamic load. The ON-time controller controls attributes such as a switching frequency and/or an ON-time duration of the control signal driving the switch to regulate the output voltage. A phase-locked loop in the compensator supplies the ON-time controller with adjustment signals that adjust the ON-time duration of activating the switch to maintain the switching frequency at a desired setpoint. Thus, if a transient load condition causes the ON-time controller to temporarily operate the switch to at a value other than the desired setpoint frequency, the phase-locked loop of the compensator causes the switching frequency to align with the desired switching frequency again over one or more control cycles.

Abstract: A power supply includes a voltage converter to produce an output voltage to power a load. The power supply further includes a reference voltage generator and a controller. The reference voltage generator is operative to generate a floor reference voltage that varies as a function of the output voltage depending on a setting of one or more adjustable (programmable) resistor-capacitor paths in the floor reference voltage generator. The controller produces control signals to control the voltage converter as a function of the floor reference voltage and the output voltage.

Abstract: A method of implementing a load line in a power converter includes: adjusting a target voltage used to regulate an output voltage of the power converter, based on sensed load current information that has delay between updates; and responsive to detecting a load current transient and before the next update to the sensed load current information becomes available, adjusting the target voltage based on blind load current information. A corresponding controller, power converter and electronic system are also described.