Multi-channel driver interface circuit for increasing phase count in a multi-phase DC-DC converter
US7026798B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/1584
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A reduced pin count, dual channel driver interface is configured to interface a supervisory controller with a plurality of multi-phase output channel switching circuits of a multi-phase DC-DC regulator. Each dual channel driver is configured for placement relatively close to output channel sense points, so as to effectively reduce the distance that would otherwise have to be traversed by noise sensitive voltage signals. Sensed current representative signals are processed within the dual driver for current balance between a respective multi driver pair, and are combined to supply the controller with the average current signal of the dual channels. The controller uses this average current-information to adjust respective pulse width modulation signals that are supplied to the dual channel drivers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.