Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Stmicroelectronics S.r.l.

Antonio Magazzu

Armando Presti

Vincent W Trimeloni

Francesco Pulvirenti

Filippo Marino

Salvatore Vincenzo Capici

Giuseppe Gramegna

Angelo Maria D'Arrigo

Tonio Gaetano Biondi

Alessandro D'Aquila

Ivo Pannizzo

Sean Philip Gold

Benedetto Marco Marletta

Issac Siavashani

Henry Dinh

Filippo Guagliardo

A DC-to-DC converter controller configured to generate phase control signals to control a plurality of power stages of a DC-to-DC converter where each power stage includes two phases. The DC-to-DC converter controller is configured to generate the phase control signals in a manner which (a) balances magnitude of current processed among the two phases of each power stage and (b) balances magnitude of current processed among the plurality of power stages.

DC-to-DC converter controllers, DC-to-DC converters, and associated methods

A dead time detector detects when a dead time occurs in a switching regulator comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch and generates an output signal based on a duration of the dead time. A first circuit generates a first turn-on signal to turn on the high-side switch and a first turn-off signal to turn off the low-side switch based on the output signal in response to a first edge of a pulse width modulated pulse. A second circuit generates a second turn-on signal to turn on the low-side switch and a second turn-off signal to turn off the high-side switch based on the output signal in response to a second edge of the pulse width modulated pulse. A controller generates drive signals to drive the high-side and low-side switches based on the first and second turn-on and turn-off signals.

Adaptive dead time control

The present invention relates to a voltage converter based on a switching regulator, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of dynamically controlling an output of the voltage converter to rapidly transition between different power supply voltages as required in many electronic devices. The switching regulator generates an output supply voltage that tracks a voltage originally provided by an internal DAC. During the supply voltage variation, a step control signal is provided to introduce a supplemental voltage step into the reference voltage before the reference voltage is used to generate the output supply voltage. The switching regulator is thereby overdriven under this supplemental voltage step, enhancing the slew rate and the settling time of the output supply voltage to meet stringent requirements imposed by many electronic devices.

Voltage transition technique for a voltage converter

Various embodiments of the invention provide extend the switching frequency range of DC/DC multiphase switching regulators in order to overcome prior art frequency limitations in the number of available phases, for example, in low input to output ratio applications. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by enabling partial overlap between multiple phases using asynchronous logic. The invention is easily scalable without introducing significant silicon area penalties.

Systems and methods to control DC/DC multiphase switching regulators

A method and a circuit for minimizing glitches in phase-locked loops is presented. The circuit includes an input terminal connected to an input of a phase detector; a series of a charge pump generator, a filter and a voltage controlled oscillator connected downstream of the phase detector; and a frequency divider feedback connected between an output of the voltage controlled oscillator and a second input of the phase detector. The circuit provides for the inclusion of a compensation circuit connected between the charge pump generator and the filter to absorb an amount of the charge passed therethrough. This compensation circuit includes a storage element connected in series to two switches. The first switch is coupled to and controlled by an output of the charge pump and the second switch is coupled to and controlled by an output of a phase detector.

Method and circuit for minimizing glitches in phase-locked loops

An electronic device smoothes a charge current peak in RLC output stages of switching step-up regulators, which stages include an input terminal and an output terminal with an inductance and a parasitic resistance in series therebetween, the latter corresponding to the series parasitic resistance of the inductance, and a capacitor connected between the output terminal and a ground. The device comprises a parallel of a resistor and a controlled switch connected between the inductance and the output terminal of the stage upstream of the capacitor. Advantageously, the switch would only be open during the charge transient of the capacitor.

Electronic device for smoothing a charge current peak in RLC output

A translator circuit for a drive circuit of a power transistor connected to an electric load. The translator circuit includes a first current generator placed between a supply voltage reference and an input terminal of the drive circuit, a controlled switch placed between the input terminal and a ground reference, and a second current generator interposed between the controlled switch and the ground reference. The translator circuit further includes a circuit leg in the form of a current mirror connected in parallel with the second current generator. The translator circuit avoids phenomena of false switching.

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Messina, Italy

Antonio Magazzu