Abstract: A control circuitry can be configured to receive an error signal indicating a difference between an output voltage of the power supply and a desired setpoint for the output voltage. According to one configuration, depending on the error signal, the control circuitry initiates switching between operating the control circuitry in a pulse width modulation mode and operating the control circuitry in a pulse frequency modulation mode to produce an output voltage. Operation of the control circuitry in the pulse frequency modulation mode during a transient condition, such as when a dynamic load instantaneously requires a different amount of current, enables the power supply to satisfy current consumption by the dynamic load. Subsequent to the transient condition, the control circuitry switches back to operation in the pulse width modulation mode.

Abstract: A multi-phase power supply circuit includes at least a first phase and a second phase (such as semi-resonant DC-DC power converter circuits), each of which output current to power a load. The first phase includes a first inductor device through which first current is delivered to the load. The second phase includes a second inductor device through which second current is delivered to the load. A current monitor circuit of the multi-phase power supply circuit is operable to monitor current through the second inductor device. Control circuitry of the multi-phase power supply circuit is operable to adjust timing of activating a control switch in the second phase to an ON state based on the monitored current. Timing of the phases is adjusted to achieve a common switching and zero current switching amongst the phases.

Abstract: A semi-resonant voltage converter has a synchronous rectification (SR) switch through which a half-cycle sinusoidal-like current is conducted when turned on. An embodiment of a method of controlling operation of the semi-resonant voltage converter includes switching the SR switch and other switches of the semi-resonant voltage converter via a linear controller so as to supply output power to a load, the semi-resonant voltage converter having a DC gain that increases when load current increases, and scaling downward an output of the linear controller used to control the switching of the SR switch responsive to the load current exceeding a first threshold, so as to at least partly counteract an increase in the DC gain of the semi-resonant voltage converter. Other control adaptation methods are also described.

Abstract: A power converter circuit includes multiple phases and controller circuitry. The multiple phases collectively operate to produce an output voltage to power a load. The controller circuitry monitors an output voltage and produces control information to control the multiple phases. Controller circuitry in each respective phase of the multiple phases processes the control information independently with respect to other phases to determine whether to output a quantum of energy to maintain regulation of the output voltage. In one arrangement, the control information provides general information indicating, such as for each control cycle, how much current is needed to supply to a load to maintain the output voltage. In a specific arrangement, identities of the phases are randomized over each of multiple cycles so that randomly chosen, but an appropriate number of phases is activated to supply current to the load.

Abstract: A multi-phase power supply circuit includes at least a first phase and a second phase (such as semi-resonant DC-DC power converter circuits), each of which output current to power a load. The first phase includes a first inductor device through which first current is delivered to the load. The second phase includes a second inductor device through which second current is delivered to the load. A current monitor circuit of the multi-phase power supply circuit is operable to monitor current through the second inductor device. Control circuitry of the multi-phase power supply circuit is operable to adjust timing of activating a control switch in the second phase to an ON state based on the monitored current. Timing of the phases is adjusted to achieve a common switching and zero current switching amongst the phases.

Abstract: A control circuitry can be configured to receive an error signal indicating a difference between an output voltage of the power supply and a desired setpoint for the output voltage. According to one configuration, depending on the error signal, the control circuitry initiates switching between operating the control circuitry in a pulse width modulation mode and operating the control circuitry in a pulse frequency modulation mode to produce an output voltage. Operation of the control circuitry in the pulse frequency modulation mode during a transient condition, such as when a dynamic load instantaneously requires a different amount of current, enables the power supply to satisfy current consumption by the dynamic load. Subsequent to the transient condition, the control circuitry switches back to operation in the pulse width modulation mode.

Abstract: A hybrid power supply circuit includes a digital circuit, a digital-to-analog converter circuit, and an analog compensator circuit (analog control circuit). According to one configuration, the digital circuit includes a digital pre-filter that substantially matches settings of analog filter circuitry present in the analog compensator circuit. During operation, the digital circuit receives control input indicating how to control a magnitude of an output voltage produced by the power supply circuit. The digital circuit passes the received through the digital pre-filter to produce a (filtered) digital reference voltage. The digital-to-analog converter circuit converts the received digital reference voltage into an analog reference voltage (a filtered rendition of the received control input). The analog compensator circuit receives and uses the digitally pre-filtered analog reference voltage as a basis to control the magnitude of the output voltage produced by the power supply circuit.

Abstract: A control circuitry can be configured to receive an error signal indicating a difference between an output voltage of the power supply and a desired setpoint for the output voltage. According to one configuration, depending on the error signal, the control circuitry initiates switching between operating the control circuitry in a pulse width modulation mode and operating the control circuitry in a pulse frequency modulation mode to produce an output voltage. Operation of the control circuitry in the pulse frequency modulation mode during a transient condition, such as when a dynamic load instantaneously requires a different amount of current, enables the power supply to satisfy current consumption by the dynamic load. Subsequent to the transient condition, the control circuitry switches back to operation in the pulse width modulation mode.

Abstract: According to example configurations herein, a controller is operated in a control mode (such as a high-speed control mode) in which the controller controls multiple phases in the power supply to produce an output voltage. The output voltage produced by the controller supplies current to power a dynamic load. While in the (high-speed current balance) control mode, the controller: i) produces, for each of the multiple phases, a respective current value representative of an estimated amount of current supplied by that phase to the dynamic load; and ii) modifies an order of activating the phases based on magnitudes of respective estimated current values produced for the multiple phases.

Abstract: A hybrid power supply circuit includes a digital circuit, a digital-to-analog converter circuit, and an analog compensator circuit (analog control circuit). According to one configuration, the digital circuit includes a digital pre-filter that substantially matches settings of analog filter circuitry present in the analog compensator circuit. During operation, the digital circuit receives control input indicating how to control a magnitude of an output voltage produced by the power supply circuit. The digital circuit passes the received through the digital pre-filter to produce a (filtered) digital reference voltage. The digital-to-analog converter circuit converts the received digital reference voltage into an analog reference voltage (a filtered rendition of the received control input). The analog compensator circuit receives and uses the digitally pre-filtered analog reference voltage as a basis to control the magnitude of the output voltage produced by the power supply circuit.

Abstract: According to example configurations herein, a controller is operated in a control mode (such as a high-speed control mode) in which the controller controls multiple phases in the power supply to produce an output voltage. The output voltage produced by the controller supplies current to power a dynamic load. While in the (high-speed current balance) control mode, the controller: i) produces, for each of the multiple phases, a respective current value representative of an estimated amount of current supplied by that phase to the dynamic load; and ii) modifies an order of activating the phases based on magnitudes of respective estimated current values produced for the multiple phases.

Abstract: According to example configurations herein, a power supply control circuit includes an emulator circuit. The emulator circuit includes: i) a first input to receive a first input value, the first input value indicating a magnitude of an input voltage used by a power supply circuit to produce an output voltage to power a respective load, and ii) a second input to receive a second input value, the second input value indicating a magnitude of the output voltage produced by the power supply circuit. The current emulator circuit uses the magnitude of the input voltage and the magnitude of the output voltage to emulate current flowing through the inductor of the power supply circuit. The emulated current flow represents an actual current supplied by the inductor to the load. The power supply control circuit uses the emulated current flowing through the inductor to control the magnitude of the output voltage within a desired range.

Abstract: According to example configurations herein, a controller receives a value indicative of a number of phases in a power supply to be activated for producing an output voltage to power a load. A resonant frequency of the power supply changes depending on the number of phases activated. According to one configuration, a controller utilizes the value to proportionally adjust at least one control parameter associated with the power supply in accordance with a change in the resonant frequency. In addition to modifying a parameter based on the number of activated phases and/or the resonant frequency of the power supply, the controller can also use the value of the input voltage as a basis to adjust at least one control parameter. Moreover, according to one example configuration, the controller digitally computes values for the at least one control parameter based on a number of phases to be activated.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a PID control circuit, a signal shaping circuit, and a PWM control circuit. The PID control circuit generates a signal based on an error voltage of the power supply system. The signal shaping circuit receives and converts the signal outputted from the PID control circuit into a linear control signal. To reduce cost, the shaping circuit can include a piecewise linear implementation. During non-transient load conditions, the PWM control circuit utilizes the linear control signal outputted from the signal shaping circuit to adjust a switching period of a power supply control signal. The switching period of the power supply control signal is maintained within a desired range. During transients, settings of the PID control circuit are modified to provide a faster response. The switching period of the power supply control signal may be adjusted outside of the desired frequency range.

Abstract: A control circuitry can be configured to receive an error signal indicating a difference between an output voltage of the power supply and a desired setpoint for the output voltage. According to one configuration, depending on the error signal, the control circuitry initiates switching between operating the control circuitry in a pulse width modulation mode and operating the control circuitry in a pulse frequency modulation mode to produce an output voltage. Operation of the control circuitry in the pulse frequency modulation mode during a transient condition, such as when a dynamic load instantaneously requires a different amount of current, enables the power supply to satisfy current consumption by the dynamic load. Subsequent to the transient condition, the control circuitry switches back to operation in the pulse width modulation mode.

Abstract: According to example configurations herein, a controller is operated in a control mode (such as a high-speed control mode) in which the controller controls multiple phases in the power supply to produce an output voltage. The output voltage produced by the controller supplies current to power a dynamic load. While in the (high-speed current balance) control mode, the controller: i) produces, for each of the multiple phases, a respective current value representative of an estimated amount of current supplied by that phase to the dynamic load; and ii) modifies an order of activating the phases based on magnitudes of respective estimated current values produced for the multiple phases.

Abstract: According to example configurations as described herein, a power supply system includes a unique circuit including an analog summer circuit, an analog-to-digital converter, and a digital controller. An output voltage feedback control loop of the power supply system feeds back the output voltage to the analog summer circuit. The analog summer circuit generates an analog error voltage signal based on: i) the output voltage received from the output voltage feedback loop, ii) an analog reference voltage signal, and iii) an analog reference voltage adjustment signal. The analog reference voltage adjustment signal varies depending on a magnitude of current provided by the output voltage to the dynamic load. Accordingly, the analog summer circuit can be configured to support adaptive voltage positioning. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog error voltage signal into a digital error voltage signal. A controller generates output voltage control signal(s) based on the digital error voltage signal.

Abstract: A control circuitry can be configured to receive an error signal indicating a difference between an output voltage of the power supply and a desired setpoint for the output voltage. According to one configuration, depending on the error signal, the control circuitry initiates switching between operating the control circuitry in a pulse width modulation mode and operating the control circuitry in a pulse frequency modulation mode to produce an output voltage. Operation of the control circuitry in the pulse frequency modulation mode during a transient condition, such as when a dynamic load instantaneously requires a different amount of current, enables the power supply to satisfy current consumption by the dynamic load. Subsequent to the transient condition, the control circuitry switches back to operation in the pulse width modulation mode.

Abstract: A controller operates a power supply in a discontinuous mode. While in the discontinuous mode, a monitor resource in the controller monitors current supplied by an inductor resource in the power supply to produce an output voltage to power a load. An adjustment value generator produces an adjustment value based on a magnitude of the current supplied to the load by the inductor resource. According to one configuration, the adjustment value equals the average inductor current multiplied by the load-line resistance value of the power supply. The controller produces an adjusted trigger threshold value by reducing a trigger threshold value by the adjustment value generated by the adjustment value generator. The adjusted trigger threshold value specifies a reduced threshold voltage at which the power supply controller turns ON a control switch in the power supply to increase an amount of current supplied by the inductor resource to the load.

Abstract: A power supply controller produces a compensation value based at least in part on: an estimated or known output capacitance of the power supply, a specified rate of changing a magnitude of the output voltage as specified by the voltage setting information, and/or a load-line resistance of the power supply. The power supply controller utilizes the compensation value to adjust a magnitude of the output voltage during a voltage transition in which the output voltage is changed from an initial output voltage setting to a target output voltage setting at a pre-specified rate.