Abstract: A DC-to-DC voltage converter includes a converter input for receiving a DC voltage. A first switch is coupled between the input and a first node. A second switch is coupled between the first node and a ground. An inductor is coupled between the first node and a converter output. A capacitor is coupled between the converter output and ground. An output voltage synthesizer is coupled to the converter input and the converter output for synthesizing the voltage at the first node and for generating a control signal for at least one of the first switch and the second switch in response to the voltages at the converter input and the converter output.

Abstract: An amplifier includes an input stage. The input stage includes a differential pair and a load circuit. The differential pair includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor are configured to amplify a received differential signal. The load circuit connects the differential pair to a reference voltage. The load circuit is configured to vary in resistance in inverse proportion to the transconductance of the first transistor and the second transistor.

Abstract: A timing regulation circuit includes a fixed and tunable timer. A current source generates a source current I1 proportional to an inductor voltage ?V1 of a DC-DC converter during an energizing phase and a current source generates a sink current I2 proportional to inductor voltage ?V2 during a de-energizing phase. The fixed timer controls a first switch in series with I1 or I2 and the tunable timer controls a balancing switch in series with the other current. I1 or I2 is coupled by the first switch and the other current is coupled by the balancing switch to a common capacitor that provides a regulation voltage to the tunable timer which outputs a regulated duration (Tregulated) for an energizing or de-energizing phase. When Tregulated closes the balancing switch the common capacitor provides a predicted current returning inductor current to a starting value when all phases finish for providing a volt-second balance.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include a transient event detector circuit to detect transient events in a switching converter, including a DLL circuit to detect changes in a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal used to operate a switching converter, and an output circuit to provide a status output signal in a first state when no transient event is detected, and to provide the status output signal in a second state indicating a transient event in the switching converter in response to a detected change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

Abstract: A multiphase power regulator includes a plurality of phases coupled in parallel to provide a load current as a combination of phase currents at an output voltage, each phase including at least one power transistor switched to provide a respective phase current based at least in part on a comparator output signal, and a current-sense low pass filter to sense the phase current. The regulator further includes a gm stage to generate the current set point voltage based at least in part on the output voltage, a comparator to compare a voltage from the current-sense low pass filters to the current set point voltage and a current set point adjustment circuit to provide an auxiliary control signal to decrease the current set point voltage responsive to a change in comparator output and then to increase the current set point voltage responsive to another change in comparator output.

Abstract: A controller including a voltage synthesizer for a switching regulator includes a synthesizer input to be coupled to an input of the regulator. First and second replica switching transistors are connected at a first node. A resistor couples between the first node and a second node, and a capacitor couples between the second node and ground. A transconductance stage compares a voltage sampled onto the capacitor to the output voltage of the regulator and generates an output signal in response to the comparison. A first switch couples between first and second inputs of the transconductance stage. The first switch is turned on during each cycle of operation of the voltage synthesizer to reset the capacitor voltage to the output voltage of the regulator.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include a transient event detector circuit to detect transient events in a switching converter, including a DLL circuit to detect changes in a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal used to operate a switching converter, and an output circuit to provide a status output signal in a first state when no transient event is detected, and to provide the status output signal in a second state indicating a transient event in the switching converter in response to a detected change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

Abstract: A power conversion system includes a maximum load current controller that is operable to limit a load current. For example, in a power conversion system operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), the maximum load current controller limits the load current by determining an idle period in an active cycle for power switches of the maximum load current controller. The maximum load current controller is optionally operable to approximate values for the time idle period that are substantially equal to theoretically calculated values.

Abstract: A multiphase power regulator includes a plurality of phases coupled in parallel to provide a load current as a combination of phase currents at an output voltage, each phase including at least one power transistor switched to provide a respective phase current based at least in part on a comparator output signal, and a current-sense low pass filter to sense the phase current. The regulator further includes a gm stage to generate the current set point voltage based at least in part on the output voltage, a comparator to compare a voltage from the current-sense low pass filters to the current set point voltage and a current set point adjustment circuit to provide an auxiliary control signal to decrease the current set point voltage responsive to a change in comparator output and then to increase the current set point voltage responsive to another change in comparator output.

Abstract: A controller including a voltage synthesizer for a switching regulator includes a synthesizer input to be coupled to an input of the regulator. First and second replica switching transistors are connected at a first node. A resistor couples between the first node and a second node, and a capacitor couples between the second node and ground. A transconductance stage compares a voltage sampled onto the capacitor to the output voltage of the regulator and generates an output signal in response to the comparison. A first switch couples between first and second inputs of the transconductance stage. The first switch is turned on during each cycle of operation of the voltage synthesizer to reset the capacitor voltage to the output voltage of the regulator.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include self-biased DLL circuits to generate a bias current signal proportional to a repetition frequency of a first signal representing continuous switching or discontinued switching operation of the DC-DC converter. The DLL circuit includes a monostable multivibrator to provide a pulse output signal in response to an edge of the first signal with a pulse duration set by a control current signal, a phase detector to provide output signals according to a phase difference between an edge of the pulse output signal and the first signal, and an output circuit to provide an output signal according to the phase detector output signals and according to an offset signal, to provide the bias current signal according to the output signal, and to provide the control current signal according to the output signal.

Abstract: A controller for a DC-DC converter includes a state machine and a plurality of drivers for controlling switches in the DC-DC converter, where each state in the state machine determines a state of the drivers, and a plurality of timers, where each state in the state machine, other than a passive state, has an associated timer for the state of the drivers.

Abstract: A timing regulation circuit includes a fixed and tunable timer. A current source generates a source current I1 proportional to an inductor voltage ?V1 of a DC-DC converter during an energizing phase and a current source generates a sink current I2 proportional to inductor voltage ?V2 during a de-energizing phase. The fixed timer controls a first switch in series with I1 or I2 and the tunable timer controls a balancing switch in series with the other current. I1 or I2 is coupled by the first switch and the other current is coupled by the balancing switch to a common capacitor that provides a regulation voltage to the tunable timer which outputs a regulated duration (Tregulated) for an energizing or de-energizing phase. When Tregulated closes the balancing switch the common capacitor provides a predicted current returning inductor current to a starting value when all phases finish for providing a volt-second balance.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include self-biased DLL circuits to generate a bias current signal proportional to a repetition frequency of a first signal representing continuous switching or discontinued switching operation of the DC-DC converter. The DLL circuit includes a monostable multivibrator to provide a pulse output signal in response to an edge of the first signal with a pulse duration set by a control current signal, a phase detector to provide output signals according to a phase difference between an edge of the pulse output signal and the first signal, and an output circuit to provide an output signal according to the phase detector output signals and according to an offset signal, to provide the bias current signal according to the output signal, and to provide the control current signal according to the output signal.

Abstract: A controller for a DC-DC converter includes a state machine and a plurality of drivers for controlling switches in the DC-DC converter, where each state in the state machine determines a state of the drivers, and a plurality of timers, where each state in the state machine, other than a passive state, has an associated timer for the state of the drivers.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include a transient event detector circuit to detect transient events in a switching converter, including a DLL circuit to detect changes in a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation signal used to operate a switching converter, and an output circuit to provide a status output signal in a first state when no transient event is detected, and to provide the status output signal in a second state indicating a transient event in the switching converter in response to a detected change in the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal.

Abstract: Disclosed examples include self-biased DLL circuits to generate a bias current signal proportional to a repetition frequency of a first signal representing continuous switching or discontinued switching operation of the DC-DC converter. The DLL circuit includes a monostable multivibrator to provide a pulse output signal in response to an edge of the first signal with a pulse duration set by a control current signal, a phase detector to provide output signals according to a phase difference between an edge of the pulse output signal and the first signal, and an output circuit to provide an output signal according to the phase detector output signals and according to an offset signal, to provide the bias current signal according to the output signal, and to provide the control current signal according to the output signal.

Abstract: An integrated fluxgate device has a magnetic core on a control circuit. The magnetic core has a volume and internal structure sufficient to have low magnetic noise and low non-linearity. A stress control structure is disposed proximate to the magnetic core. An excitation winding, a sense winding and a compensation winding are disposed around the magnetic core. An excitation circuit disposed in the control circuit is coupled to the excitation winding, configured to provide current at high frequency to the excitation winding sufficient to generate a saturating magnetic field in the magnetic core during each cycle at the high frequency. An isolation structure is disposed between the magnetic core and the windings, sufficient to enable operation of the excitation winding and the sense winding at the high frequency at low power.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC voltage converter includes a converter input for receiving a DC voltage. A first switch is coupled between the input and a first node. A second switch is coupled between the first node and a ground. An inductor is coupled between the first node and a converter output. A capacitor is coupled between the converter output and ground. An output voltage synthesizer is coupled to the converter input and the converter output for synthesizing the voltage at the first node and for generating a control signal for at least one of the first switch and the second switch in response to the voltages at the converter input and the converter output.

Abstract: A power conversion system includes a maximum load current controller that is operable to limit a load current. For example, in a power conversion system operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), the maximum load current controller limits the load current by determining an idle period in an active cycle for power switches of the maximum load current controller. The maximum load current controller is optionally operable to approximate values for the time idle period that are substantially equal to theoretically calculated values.