Qualcomm Incorporated

Chengwu Tao

Joseph Duncan

Xiaocheng Jing

Amir Parayandeh

Linfei Guo

Justin Philpott

Lin Xue

Joseph Dale Rutkowski

Xun Liu

An apparatus is disclosed for a switch-mode power supply with a network of flying capacitors and switches. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a switch-mode power supply with an inductor, a switching circuit, and a network of flying capacitors and switches. The switching circuit is coupled to the inductor. The network of flying capacitors and switches is coupled to the switching circuit and includes at least two flying capacitors and multiple switches. The multiple switches are configured to selectively connect the at least two flying capacitors in parallel between a first terminal of the network of flying capacitors and switches and a second terminal of the network of flying capacitors and switches or connect the at least two flying capacitors in series between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Switch-mode power supply with a network of flying capacitors and switches

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for continuous current sensing for a single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) regulator. One example method includes operating a plurality of switches of the SIMO regulator, via a plurality of control signals, according to a plurality of switching states using a switching controller, sensing currents associated with at least a portion of the plurality of switches of the SIMO regulator using a plurality of current sense circuits, and selectively outputting a sense current from one of the plurality of current sense circuits based on a change in the plurality of controls signals occurring between a transition from a first switching state to a second switching state of the plurality of switching states.

Techniques for current sensing for single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) regulators

Methods and apparatus for operating a switched-mode power supply (SMPS). One example method generally includes comparing a signal representative of an amount of current across an inductive element of the SMPS with at least three thresholds, selecting a configuration of the SMPS based on the comparison, and configuring the SMPS based on the selection.

Techniques for controlling a single-inductor multiple-output (SIMO) switched-mode power supply (SMPS)

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for operating a switched-mode power supply (SMPS). One example method generally includes selecting a first output of a plurality of outputs of the SMPS based on a power demand associated with each of the plurality of outputs if a voltage at the first output is less than a reference voltage associated with the first output, by selecting as the first output one of the plurality of outputs having the highest power demand, and based on an amount of overcharge associated with the first output if the voltage at the first output is greater than the reference voltage, by selecting as the first output one of the plurality of outputs having the lowest amount of overcharge. The method may also include directing current across an inductive element of the SMPS to the first output based on the selection.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Chengwu Tao