Patent · US Active

Pulse adding scheme for smooth phase dropping at light load conditions for multiphase voltage regulators

US7812581B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
6References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 12, 2007
Grant dateOct 12, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 8, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B70/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multiphase regulator which includes an output node developing an output voltage, a feedback circuit determining error of the output voltage and providing a compensation signal indicative thereof, at least three phase circuits coupled in parallel to the output node, and an adaptive controller. Each phase circuit includes a modulation circuit and a switch circuit. Each modulation circuit receives the compensation signal and generates pulses on a corresponding one of the pulse modulation signals. Each switch circuit is coupled to the output node and is controlled by a corresponding pulse modulation signal. The adaptive controller is responsive to a load indication signal, such as indicating a low load condition, and drops operation of at least one of the phase circuits and adds at least one pulse to a pulse modulation signal of each remaining phase circuit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.