Abstract: An illustrative controller includes: a feedback circuit that produces a PWM signal based on an output node voltage; and an overcurrent protection (OCP) circuit configured to convert the PWM signal into (i) a high side control (HSFET) signal for a high side switch, and (ii) a low side control (LSFET) signal for a low side switch. The OCP circuit includes: a high side positive overcurrent detector that de-asserts the HSFET signal and asserts the LSFET signal for a first interval when the current exceeds a first threshold during assertion of the PWM signal; a low side positive overcurrent detector that disables the HSFET signal and asserts the LSFET signal for a second interval when the current exceeds a second threshold during de-assertion of the PWM signal; and a low side negative overcurrent detector that de-asserts the LSFET signal for a third interval when the current falls below a third threshold.

Abstract: A switching regulator is disclosed that includes a driver having a driver-wake circuit configured to report its readiness for operation during a startup period. The driver-wake circuit can operate during startup by temporarily drawing power from the controller’s power supply until the driver’s power supply has reached a level sufficient to power the driver-wake circuit. The driver-wake circuit is configured to communicate the status of the driver’s power supply during startup over a pin typically used to communicate temperature. Thus, the disclosed driver can communicate status during startup without needing extra pins, and because the circuitry is automatically disconnected after startup, very little additional power is consumed.

Abstract: A switching regulator is disclosed that includes a driver having a driver-wake circuit configured to report its readiness for operation during a startup period. The driver-wake circuit can operate during startup by temporarily drawing power from the controller's power supply until the driver's power supply has reached a level sufficient to power the driver-wake circuit. The driver-wake circuit is configured to communicate the status of the driver's power supply during startup over a pin typically used to communicate temperature. Thus, the disclosed driver can communicate status during startup without needing extra pins, and because the circuitry is automatically disconnected after startup, very little additional power is consumed.

Abstract: A driver can be configured to provide sensed phase currents as feedback to a controller to indicate the output currents from each phase of a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The driver can be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents in one of two ways. If a temperature sensor is directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents from each phase based on a temperature measurement made by the temperature sensor. If a temperature sensor is not directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed current from each phase based on a temperature signal received from a bus coupled to the driver. The bus can communicate the temperature signal so that multiple drivers can utilize one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A switching regulator is disclosed that includes a driver having a driver-wake circuit configured to report its readiness for operation during a startup period. The driver-wake circuit can operate during startup by temporarily drawing power from the controller's power supply until the driver's power supply has reached a level sufficient to power the driver-wake circuit. The driver-wake circuit is configured to communicate the status of the driver's power supply during startup over a pin typically used to communicate temperature. Thus, the disclosed driver can communicate status during startup without needing extra pins, and because the circuitry is automatically disconnected after startup, very little additional power is consumed.

Abstract: A driver can be configured to provide sensed phase currents as feedback to a controller to indicate the output currents from each phase of a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The driver can be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents in one of two ways. If a temperature sensor is directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents from each phase based on a temperature measurement made by the temperature sensor. If a temperature sensor is not directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed current from each phase based on a temperature signal received from a bus coupled to the driver. The bus can communicate the temperature signal so that multiple drivers can utilize one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A driver can be configured to provide sensed phase currents as feedback to a controller to indicate the output currents from each phase of a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The driver can be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents in one of two ways. If a temperature sensor is directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents from each phase based on a temperature measurement made by the temperature sensor. If a temperature sensor is not directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed current from each phase based on a temperature signal received from a bus coupled to the driver. The bus can communicate the temperature signal so that multiple drivers can utilize one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A driver can be configured to provide sensed phase currents as feedback to a controller to indicate the output currents from each phase of a switch mode power supply (SMPS). The driver can be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents in one of two ways. If a temperature sensor is directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed currents from each phase based on a temperature measurement made by the temperature sensor. If a temperature sensor is not directly coupled to the driver, then the driver may be configured to temperature compensate the sensed current from each phase based on a temperature signal received from a bus coupled to the driver. The bus can communicate the temperature signal so that multiple drivers can utilize one temperature sensor.