Abstract: The present application is directed to a voltage regulator including a high-side and a low-side power transistor. The high-side and the low-side power transistors are operable to output power to a transient load. The voltage regulator further includes control circuitry coupled to the high-side low-side power transistors and the transient load, with the control circuitry operable to receive a control signal from the transient load or the system. The control signal may correspond to an operating voltage of the transient load. In response to a decrease in a power level, the control circuitry may turn off the high-side power transistor, turn on the low-side power transistor a first duration, and turn off the low-side power transistor for a second duration. The first duration and the second duration may be based, at least in part, on the operating voltage.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a first phase power stage, a second phase power stage, and a controller. The first phase power stage includes a zero cross detection circuit configured to measure a current level for the first phase power stage, and to cause a diode emulation state in the first phase power stage when the current level is substantially equal to zero. The second phase power stage is in communication with the zero cross detection circuit, and configured to enter the diode emulation state in response to receiving a signal from the zero cross detection circuit. The controller is coupled to the first phase power stage and to the second phase power stage. The controller is configured to measure an output current of the voltage regulator and to activate the second phase power stage when the output current is above a first threshold current level.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) is disclosed providing a power supply operable to provide an output current to the IHS during power initiation. The IHS may also include a first power component associated with a first power stage wherein the first power stage may have a first current threshold. Furthermore, the IHS may include a power control logic coupled to the power supply and the first power component. As such, the power control logic may be operable to communicate the first power stage to the power supply, and if the output current does not exceed the first current threshold during the first power stage, the power control logic may be operable to communicate a second power stage having a second current threshold to the power supply.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a voltage regulator in an information handling system (IHS) is provided. The method may include enabling one or more operating phases associated with the voltage regulator and initializing a switch configuration having at least one high-side switch and at least one low-side switch. In addition, the may method include initializing a dead-time value, sensing a load current, and adjusting the number of operating phases, the switch configuration, or the dead-time value in response to the load current.

Abstract: A voltage regulator includes a first phase power stage, a second phase power stage, and a controller. The first phase power stage includes a zero cross detection circuit configured to measure a current level for the first phase power stage, and to cause a diode emulation state in the first phase power stage when the current level is substantially equal to zero. The second phase power stage is in communication with the zero cross detection circuit, and configured to enter the diode emulation state in response to receiving a signal from the zero cross detection circuit. The controller is coupled to the first phase power stage and to the second phase power stage. The controller is configured to measure an output current of the voltage regulator and to activate the second phase power stage when the output current is above a first threshold current level.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide static phase shedding techniques to improve the efficiency of multi-phase voltage regulators within information handling systems by selecting the number of active phases for the multi-phase voltage regulators using circuit identifiers (IDs) for circuitry configured to be powered by the multi-phase voltage regulators, such as central processing units (CPUs). In one embodiment, processor identifier information related to installed CPUs is used to control the voltage regulator (VR) phase number to provide static phase shedding. This VR control can be implemented in a variety of ways, including the use of conventional analog multi-phase VR controllers and/or digital VR controllers. Dynamic phase shedding can also be used in conjunction with this static phase shedding to further reduce the number of active phases when a processor operates in a low power mode.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a multi-phase voltage regulator may comprise a plurality of phases, each phase configured to supply electrical current to one or more information handling resources electrically coupled to the voltage regulator. A controller may be electrically coupled to the plurality of phases. The controller may designate at least one of the plurality of phases as a first state phase, and designate each of the plurality of phases not designated as a first state phase as a second state phase. The controller may alternate the designation of at least two of the plurality of phases between a first state phase and a second state phase. Each first state phase may be configured to supply a first electrical current regardless of electrical current demand. Each second state phase may be configured to supply a second electrical current based on the current demand.

Abstract: A multi-phase voltage regulator is disclosed. The multi-phase voltage regulator includes a voltage regulator controller. Phase output stages are coupled to the voltage regulator controller. The voltage regulator controller and the phase output stages are configured to provide regulated voltages at one or more output nodes. The voltage regulator controller is configured to monitor one or more conditions of the phase output stages and to control one or more of the phase output stages based, at least in part, on the one or more conditions.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a voltage regulator in an information handling system (IHS) is provided. The method may include enabling one or more operating phases associated with the voltage regulator and initializing a switch configuration having at least one high-side switch and at least one low-side switch.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) is disclosed providing a power supply operable to provide an output current to the IHS during power initiation. The IHS may also include a first power component associated with a first power stage wherein the first power stage may have a first current threshold. Furthermore, the IHS may include a power control logic coupled to the power supply and the first power component. As such, the power control logic may be operable to communicate the first power stage to the power supply, and if the output current does not exceed the first current threshold during the first power stage, the power control logic may be operable to communicate a second power stage having a second current threshold to the power supply.

Abstract: A method and circuit to output adaptive drive voltages within information handling systems is disclosed. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of outputting power within an information handling system can include sensing a load current of a power output stage operable to employ more than one drive voltage level. The method can also include comparing the load current to a threshold current setting, and selecting a first output drive voltage from a plurality of input drive voltages in response to comparing the load current to the threshold current setting. The method can also include coupling the first output drive voltage to the power output stage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide static phase shedding techniques to improve the efficiency of multi-phase voltage regulators within information handling systems by selecting the number of active phases for the multi-phase voltage regulators using circuit identifiers (IDs) for circuitry configured to be powered by the multi-phase voltage regulators, such as central processing units (CPUs). In one embodiment, processor identifier information related to installed CPUs is used to control the voltage regulator (VR) phase number to provide static phase shedding. This VR control can be implemented in a variety of ways, including the use of conventional analog multi-phase VR controllers and/or digital VR controllers. Dynamic phase shedding can also be used in conjunction with this static phase shedding to further reduce the number of active phases when a processor operates in a low power mode.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for improving the efficiency of a battery supplied power supply system. More particularly, a method and system is provided for improving the voltage regulation efficiency for a system in which the input voltage that is to be regulated may vary widely. In the techniques disclosed, the voltage supply that is utilized for the drive control circuitry of the voltage regulators is varied in relation to variations in the input voltage. Thus in one embodiment, the voltage supply that is utilized for the circuitry that drives a control terminal of the output transistor of the regulation circuitry may be varied in relation to variations in the input voltage. For example, an inverse relationship may be established between the input voltage level and the voltage level that is used for the gate drive circuitry that controls the gates of regulator output transistors.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for more fully utilizing the full voltage range of a battery driven battery output voltage when the battery output voltage is provided through voltage regulation circuitry. More particularly, when the battery output voltage drops to a level that is insufficient to support the desired output of the voltage regulation circuitry, the battery output voltage may be coupled to the voltage output in a manner bypassing at least a portion of the voltage regulation circuitry. In this manner additional voltage range of the battery output voltage may be utilized while still maintaining an output voltage within a desired output voltage range. In one embodiment, such a technique may be utilized in an uninterruptible power supply system.

Abstract: A method and circuit to output adaptive drive voltages within information handling systems is disclosed. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of outputting power within an information handling system can include sensing a load current of a power output stage operable to employ more than one drive voltage level. The method can also include comparing the load current to a threshold current setting, and selecting a first output drive voltage from a plurality of input drive voltages in response to comparing the load current to the threshold current setting. The method can also include coupling the first output drive voltage to the power output stage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interfacing a battery system of a battery-powered keyboard system with main battery components of a battery-powered information handling system to enable a battery charging system of the battery-powered information handling system to charge both the main battery pack of the battery-powered information handling system and the battery pack of the battery-powered keyboard system without the presence of a separate stand-alone battery charger in the battery-powered keyboard system, and/or so that the keyboard battery of the battery-powered keyboard system may be used to supplement the main battery of the battery-powered information handling system such as in case of emergency power loss or to extend total battery life for running the information handling system.

Abstract: Systems and methods that may be employed to provide a high-reliability power architecture for an information handling system and a physically separable (i.e., detachable) remote system. The information handling system may be, for example, a portable information handling system such as a notebook computer. The remote system may be, for example, a battery-powered input or input/output device such as a wireless keyboard configured to wirelessly communicate input/output information with the information handling system, and that is also configured to be physically and electrically coupled to the information handling system to allow a flow of current to be provided from circuitry of the information handling system to circuitry of the remote system. The power architecture may be implemented using multiple (e.g., two) Uninterrupted Power System (UPS) buses.

Abstract: One or more charger regulation tasks (e.g., one or more of those tasks typically performed by charger regulator circuitry of a separate battery charging apparatus) are integrated within a battery system (e.g., a battery pack of a portable information handling system) by utilizing component/s common to the battery system (e.g., microcontroller and FET components).

Abstract: A bus monitoring device includes a detector to detect a signal on the bus. The signal is initiated by one of a plurality of devices coupled to the bus. A clamp circuit is included to clamp the signal to a first predefined level in response to the signal being initiated by a first device of the plurality of devices. A comparator circuit compares the signal and a voltage reference to determine whether the first device initiated the signal.

Abstract: A resister network having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) may be utilized to create a temperature compensated equivalent resistance “R” for a current sensing RC network used in measuring inductor current of a DC-to-DC converter or a general switching regulator that needs to use inductor current as a control signal. The NTC resistor of the RC network effectively compensates for the positive temperature coefficient of the switching regulator inductor's inherent DC resistance (DCR). Keeping the time constants of the RC network and the switching regulator inductor substantially matched improves operation of cycle by cycle based control modes such as peak current sensing by the switching regulator controller in performing peak current control for the DC-to-DC converter.