Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for harvesting ringing energy. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a bootstrap circuit. The bootstrap circuit includes a bootstrap capacitor and a bootstrap switch. The bootstrap switch includes a first terminal configured to accept an input voltage. The bootstrap switch also includes a second terminal coupled to the bootstrap capacitor. The bootstrap switch additionally includes a body diode comprising an anode coupled to the first terminal and a cathode coupled to the second terminal. The bootstrap switch is configured to be in an open state to charge the bootstrap capacitor via the body diode. The bootstrap switch is also configured to provide a voltage at the second terminal of the bootstrap switch. The voltage is greater than an average of the input voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for harvesting ringing energy. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a bootstrap circuit. The bootstrap circuit includes a bootstrap capacitor and a bootstrap switch. The bootstrap switch includes a first terminal configured to accept an input voltage. The bootstrap switch also includes a second terminal coupled to the bootstrap capacitor. The bootstrap switch additionally includes a body diode comprising an anode coupled to the first terminal and a cathode coupled to the second terminal. The bootstrap switch is configured to be in an open state to charge the bootstrap capacitor via the body diode. The bootstrap switch is also configured to provide a voltage at the second terminal of the bootstrap switch. The voltage is greater than an average of the input voltage.

Abstract: A styrene-isoprene/butadiene diblock copolymer contains a polystyrene block and a polyisoprene/butadiene block. Based on 100 wt % of the styrene-isoprene/butadiene diblock copolymer, the polystyrene block is 20-45 wt %, and the polyisoprene/butadiene block is 55-80 wt %. The polyisoprene/butadiene block has a polyisoprene unit and a polybutadiene unit. The weight ratio of the polyisoprene unit to the polybutadiene unit is 8:2 to 2:8.

Abstract: A duty cycle estimation circuit includes a latch circuit that receives a clock signal for a voltage regulator. The latch circuit outputs a duty cycle estimate. The duty cycle estimation circuit also includes a low pass filter coupled to an output of the latch circuit to receive the duty cycle estimate. The duty cycle estimation circuit further includes a comparator that receives, as input, an output of the low pass filter and a voltage regulator output. The comparator feeds back a feedback signal to the latch circuit.

Abstract: A duty cycle estimation circuit includes a latch circuit that receives a clock signal for a voltage regulator. The latch circuit outputs a duty cycle estimate. The duty cycle estimation circuit also includes a low pass filter coupled to an output of the latch circuit to receive the duty cycle estimate. The duty cycle estimation circuit further includes a comparator that receives, as input, an output of the low pass filter and a voltage regulator output. The comparator feeds back a feedback signal to the latch circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase switching regulator and a droop circuit for use in the multi-phase switching regulator. The multi-phase switching regulator generates pulse width modulation (PWM) signals according to an output voltage and a droop signal, to drive a plurality of switching sets to convert an input voltage to the output voltage. The droop circuit detects the sum of the currents generated by the plurality of switching sets and provides the droop signal which is related to the sum of the currents to the multi-phase switching regulator. The droop signal can be used for over current protection (OCP) or for the droop control.

Abstract: A control circuit and method for a PWM voltage regulator combine a high frequency feedback technique with a constant on-time or constant off-time topology to improve the transient performance of the PWM voltage regulator. The PWM voltage regulator generates a constant on-time or constant off-time depending on a current for generating a PWM signal, and dynamically adjusts the current according to the droop-voltage at its output during a transient period. Therefore, the PWM voltage regulator boosts its transient response without any threshold for load step detection.

Abstract: In a PWM signal generation method of a voltage regulator, an output sense signal, a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal are provided. A first time point of the first ramp signal crossing with the output sense signal is used to determine a start point of an ON-time of a PWM signal, and a second time point of the second ramp signal crossing with the output sense signal is used to determine an end point of the ON-time of the PWM signal. Moreover, the first ramp signal is reset to a reference voltage at the first time point and then maintained at the reference voltage, and further ramps down starting from the end point of the ON-time. The second ramp signal ramps up starting from the start point of the ON-time, and then is reset to a preset voltage at the second time point.

Abstract: An exemplary method for improving voltage identification (VID) transient response is adapted to a voltage regulator and includes steps of: continuously sensing an inductor current of the voltage regulator to thereby output a current sense signal; during a steady state operation period, sampling the current sense signal to thereby obtain a sampling result for providing a droop control signal; after entering a VID transient period from the steady state operation period, holding the sampling result for providing the droop control signal; and taking the droop control signal as a consideration factor of producing a pulse width modulation signal to regulate an output voltage of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-phase switching regulator and a droop circuit for use in the multi-phase switching regulator. The multi-phase switching regulator generates pulse width modulation (PWM) signals according to an output voltage and a droop signal, to drive a plurality of switching sets to convert an input voltage to the output voltage. The droop circuit detects the sum of the currents generated by the plurality of switching sets and provides the droop signal which is related to the sum of the currents to the multi-phase switching regulator. The droop signal can be used for over current protection (OCP) or for the droop control.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an adaptive constant ON time adjustment circuit, which generates a square wave signal having a constant normal ON time during normal operation, for controlling a power stage circuit to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. When the output voltage is shifted from low to high, during the transient period, the ON time is adjusted longer; and when the output voltage is shifted from high to low, during the transient period, the ON time is adjusted shorter.

Abstract: A multiphase DC-DC converting circuit for providing power to a load is disclosed, having power stage circuits, channel current converting circuits, current detecting circuits, a transconductance amplifier circuit, a comparator circuit, and a channel current balance circuit. The current detecting circuits detect current signals of current channels, and the transconductance amplifier circuit and the comparator circuit are coupled with the current detecting circuits to receive the voltage difference across a resistor, and to generate a total current detecting signal provided to the load. The channel current converting circuit is coupled with the current detecting circuits to generate channel current detecting signals. The channel current balance circuit is coupled with the comparator circuit, the transconductance amplifier circuit and the channel current converting circuit to balance the current signals of the current channels.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-phase switching regulator and a droop circuit therefor. The droop circuit includes: multiple first resistors, which are coupled to corresponding phase nodes respectively to sense current through the phase nodes; a second resistor, which is coupled to the multiple first resistors; an error amplifier circuit, which has an inverting input end and a non-inverting input end, wherein the inverting input end is coupled to the second resistor and an output end of the error amplifier circuit, and the non-inverting input end is coupled to an output node; and a droop capacitor, which is coupled between the second resistor and the output node; wherein the droop circuit provides the droop signal according to a voltage drop across the second resistor or current through the second resistor.

Abstract: A control circuit and method for a PWM voltage regulator combine a high frequency feedback technique with a constant on-time or constant off-time topology to improve the transient performance of the PWM voltage regulator. The PWM voltage regulator generates a constant on-time or constant off-time depending on a current for generating a PWM signal, and dynamically adjusts the current according to the droop-voltage at its output during a transient period. Therefore, the PWM voltage regulator boosts its transient response without any threshold for load step detection.

Abstract: An exemplary method for improving voltage identification (VID) transient response is adapted to a voltage regulator and includes steps of: continuously sensing an inductor current of the voltage regulator to thereby output a current sense signal; during a steady state operation period, sampling the current sense signal to thereby obtain a sampling result for providing a droop control signal; after entering a VID transient period from the steady state operation period, holding the sampling result for providing the droop control signal; and taking the droop control signal as a consideration factor of producing a pulse width modulation signal to regulate an output voltage of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: In a PWM signal generation method of a voltage regulator, an output sense signal, a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal are provided. A first time point of the first ramp signal crossing with the output sense signal is used to determine a start point of an ON-time of a PWM signal, and a second time point of the second ramp signal crossing with the output sense signal is used to determine an end point of the ON-time of the PWM signal. Moreover, the first ramp signal is reset to a reference voltage at the first time point and then maintained at the reference voltage, and further ramps down starting from the end point of the ON-time. The second ramp signal ramps up starting from the start point of the ON-time, and then is reset to a preset voltage at the second time point.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an adaptive constant ON time adjustment circuit, which generates a square wave signal having a constant normal ON time during normal operation, for controlling a power stage circuit to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. When the output voltage is shifted from low to high, during the transient period, the ON time is adjusted longer; and when the output voltage is shifted from high to low, during the transient period, the ON time is adjusted shorter.