Intel Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Jeffery James Olsen

Michael A Stapleton

John A Dickerson

Bernard W Boland

Ferdinand Jacob Sluijs

The present invention provides an n-phase integrated buck converter. The converter comprises a controller and a plurality of circuits each operably connected to the controller. The controller controls the plurality of circuits to respectively output a plurality of current signals each having an associated phase and generate an output voltage signal. By applying the n phase concept of the invention, the amount of current each phase (i.e., each of the plurality of circuits) has to deliver is reduced. This directly reduces the conduction losses in each phase. Because the current in each phase is lower, a smaller MOSFET in each of the plurality of circuits may be used. The smaller MOSFET is easier to switch. Therefore, the switching losses per phase are also reduced. Reducing these losses will enable the invention to achieve high efficiencies. Integration allows all of the components to become physically closer and capable of being switched faster. Faster switching frequencies allow for smaller and less passive components. Integration also minimizes the total cost of the converter.

Multiphase integrated DC-to-DC voltage converter

A system includes a processor, a voltage regulator and a circuit. The processor uses a first supply voltage to furnish a first indication of a second supply voltage to be received by the processor. The voltage regulator furnishes the second supply voltage in response to both the first indication and a second indication that the first supply voltage is valid. The circuit provides the second indication and regulates a timing of the second indication to prevent the voltage regulator from furnishing the second supply voltage until a predefined interval of time has elapsed after the first supply voltage becomes valid.

Circuit to indicate the status of a supply voltage

A method includes converting a first voltage into a second voltage. The second voltage is routed to a power supply line when the second voltage exceeds a first predefined threshold, and the second voltage is isolated from the power supply line when the first voltage decreases below a second predefined voltage.

Supply voltage sequencing

A system includes a first power supply line that is associated with a first voltage level and a second power supply line that is associated with a second voltage level. A power supply is coupled to the first and second power lines to establish a first voltage of the first power supply line near the first voltage level and a second voltage of the second power supply line near the second voltage level. The power supply has a response during a time period after the activation or deactivation of the power supply in which the power supply does not maintain a difference between the first and second voltages within a predefined range. The system includes a circuit that is coupled to the first and second power supply lines to maintain the difference between the first and second voltages within the predefined range during the time period.

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Banks, OR, United States of America

Jeffery James Olsen