Infineon Technologies Austria Ag

Primarion Corporation

Other

Zarlink Semiconductor Limited

Scott Wilson Southwell

Benjamim Tang

Richard Pierson

Kenneth A Ostrom

Robert T Carroll

Amir Babazadeh

Tim Ng

Benjamin Tang

Jinghong Guo

Brian Molloy

Yi-Yuan Liu

Nicholas Robert Steffen

Nick Steffen

Felix Kim

Steven Joseph Schulte

Clark Custer

Mattia Oddicini

David R Lewis

Robert Reissfelder

Timothy M Ng

Allen Sakai

Brian Wong

Paul M Gitahi

Suejong Choi Perranoski

An apparatus includes processing hardware, storage hardware, and serial communication hardware. The processing hardware receives selection of a serial communication protocol. The serial communication protocol is selected amongst multiple serial communication protocols to control operation of a power converter. Via the processing hardware or other suitable entity, the storage hardware is populated with a set of command decode functions (a.k.a., command descriptors) assigned to the selected serial communication protocol. During operation, the serial communication hardware receives commands over a serial communication interface and executes the received commands via the set of command decode functions in the storage hardware. Each of the multiple commands communicated over the serial communication interface is encoded in accordance with the selected serial communication protocol. The serial communication hardware uses the set of command decode functions to execute the received commands.

Flexible high speed interface implementation in a power supply

According to an embodiment, a multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases each of which is operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. A controller is operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, test the output phases in a predetermined sequence, and determine if the phase currents respond in a predetermined way.

Multiphase regulator with phase current testing using ramp current patterns

Multiphase regulator with phase current testing

According to an embodiment, a multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases each of which is operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. A controller is operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, determine if the monitored phase currents indicate any of the individual output phases, any of the individual inductors or the output capacitor are faulty even if the total current delivered to the load is within specified limits, synchronously switch the output phases which cause ripples in the phase currents, and detect if any of the phase currents fail to have a ripple current pattern that matches an expected ripple current pattern.

Multiphase regulator with current pattern matching

A voltage regulation system for providing power to a load is provided. The voltage regulation system includes a voltage regulator operable to: set an operating voltage of the load at a first voltage level which corresponds to a first voltage requirement of the load; receive a second voltage requirement of the load which is different than the first voltage requirement; produce a voltage ramp signal which transitions from the first voltage level to a second voltage level which corresponds to the second voltage requirement at a defined ramp rate; and ramp the operating voltage from the first voltage level to the second voltage level based on the voltage ramp signal and at the same ramp rate as the voltage ramp signal, but with a lag between the voltage ramp signal and the ramp in the operating voltage.

Voltage regulation system and method for providing power to a load

A voltage regulation system for providing power to a load is provided. The voltage regulation system includes a voltage regulator operable to set an operating voltage of the load at a first voltage level which corresponds to a first voltage requirement of the load, receive a second voltage requirement of the load which is different than the first voltage requirement and produce a voltage ramp from the first voltage level to the second voltage level. The voltage regulator is further operable to transition the operating voltage from the first voltage level to the second voltage level at a same ramp rate as the voltage ramp and with a lag between the voltage ramp and the transition in the operating voltage.

A multiphase regulator includes a plurality of output phases, each operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the output phases via the inductors and an output capacitor. The multiphase regulator further includes a controller operable to regulate a voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, and monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases. The controller is further operable to determine if the monitored phase currents indicate any of the individual output phases, any of the individual inductors or the output capacitor are faulty, even if the total current delivered to the load is within specified limits.

Multiphase regulator with self-test

Methods and apparatus selecting settings for circuits according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a measurement element connected to the circuit. The circuit may include a voltage source adapted to supply a voltage to the measurement element. The voltage may be substantially independent of the characteristics of the measurement element. The circuit may further include a measurement sensor responsive to a current in the measurement element. The measurement sensor may generate a control signal according to the current in the measurement element.

Sensor circuit for detecting the setting of an integrated circuit

A system for balancing current supplied by a plurality of regulators coupled to a load includes circuitry operable to measure an average load current supplied by each regulator, determine an overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators, and compare each average load current with the overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators. The circuitry included in the system is also operable to adjust an output current of one or more of the plurality of regulators so that the plurality of regulators supply the same current to the load.

System for balancing current supplied to a load

Methods and apparatus for power regulation according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with producing a voltage ramp starting at a first voltage and ending at a second voltage and compensating the voltage ramp according to a compensation parameter. The compensation parameter may be adapted to compensate for a circuit parameter. A voltage may then be generated according to the compensated voltage ramp.

Voltage ramp circuitry and voltage ramp methods for voltage regulators

Methods and apparatus of dynamic transient optimization in a voltage regulator according to various aspects of the present invention may comprise a transition detector configured to compare an output voltage error to an amplitude threshold. The voltage regulator may further comprise a frequency detector configured to measure the frequency of the amplitude threshold being exceeded and to compare the frequency to a frequency threshold and a response circuit configured to activate a response according to a comparison between the frequency threshold and the frequency of the amplitude threshold being exceeded.

Methods and apparatus for voltage regulation with dynamic transient optimization

A method of balancing current supplied by a plurality of regulators coupled to a load includes: measuring an average load current supplied by each regulator; determining an overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators; comparing each average load current with the overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators; and adjusting an output current of one or more of the plurality of regulators so that the plurality of regulators supply the same current to the load.

Method of balancing current supplied to a load

Methods and apparatus for a multiphase power regulator according various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with an active transient response (ATR) system for applying a correction signal to a multiphase pulse width modulator. In the event of a transient, the ATR system may adjust the output of the pulse width modulator to quickly respond to load requirements. The output may be modified by adding pulses, blanking pulses, advancing pulses, and scaling pulses to one or more phases.

Methods and apparatus for a multiphase power regulator

Methods and apparatus for selecting settings for circuits

A multiphase power regulator includes a multiphase pulse width modulator, an output stage and an active transient response circuit. The output stage includes a high side transistor, a low side transistor and an inductor. The output stage is configured to supply power to a load responsive to signals generated by the multiphase pulse width modulator. The active transient response circuit is coupled between the output stage and the multiphase pulse width modulator and configured to detect the voltage level at the output stage and provide a signal to the multiphase pulse width modulator that is a function of the amplitude of the deviation of the detected voltage level from a target voltage.

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Seal Beach, NC, United States of America

Scott Wilson Southwell