Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

Volterra Semiconductor Corporation

Serhii Mikhailovich Zhak

Brett A Miwa

David Harrington

Mark Anthony Belch

Jonathan King

Xin Zhou

Alexandr Ikriannikov

Ilija Jergovic

Andrew J Burstein

Justin Michael Burkhart

Michael Warren Baker

Jizheng Qiu

A control circuit for a step-up converter includes a soft start module configured to control states of N transistor pairs of the step-up converter, where N is an integer greater than two. A driver module is in communication with the soft start module and configured to generate a first signal when N transistor pairs of the step-up converter are ready to switch. A first charging circuit is configured to charge (N-1) capacitors of the step-up converter to an input voltage of the step-up converter in response to the first signal and to generate a second signal when charging is complete. A second charging circuit is configured to sequentially charge the (N-1) capacitors of the step-up converter to (N-1) predetermined voltage values in response to the first signal and the second signal and before operation of the step-up converter begins.

Soft start systems and methods for multi-level step-up converters

A multi-level, step-up converter circuit includes an inductor including one terminal in communication with an input voltage supply. N transistor pairs are connected in series, where N is an integer greater than one. First and second transistors of a first pair of the N transistor pairs are connected together at a node. The node is in communication with another terminal of the inductor. Third and fourth transistors of a second pair of the N transistor pairs are connected to the first and second transistors, respectively. (N&#x2212;1) capacitors have terminals connected between the N transistor pairs, respectively. An output capacitor has a terminal in communication with at least one transistor of the N transistor pair.

Multi-level step-up converter topologies, control and soft start systems and methods

A method of regulating voltage includes closing first and second switching devices during first and second periods in response to first and second signals, respectively. The first and second switching devices open and close to connect and disconnect first ends of first and second inductors of first and second phases of a voltage regulator to and from an input voltage, respectively. The method includes selectively generating one of the first and second signals when a third signal is in a first state; selectively setting the third signal to the first state based on a ramp voltage; resetting the ramp voltage to a predetermined reset voltage when the third signal transitions from a second state to the first state; maintaining the ramp voltage at the predetermined reset voltage for a predetermined ramp reset period after the resetting; and increasing the ramp voltage after the predetermined ramp reset period.

Methods for multi-phase voltage regulator control

Multi-level step-up converter topologies, control and soft start systems and  methods

A control circuit for a step-up converter includes a soft start module configured to control states of N transistor pairs of the step-up converter, where N is an integer greater than two. A driver module is in communication with the soft start module and configured to generate a first signal when N transistor pairs of the step-up converter are ready to switch. A first charging circuit is configured to charge (N&#x2212;1) capacitors of the step-up converter to an input voltage of the step-up converter in response to the first signal and to generate a second signal when charging is complete. A second charging circuit is configured to sequentially charge the (N&#x2212;1) capacitors of the step-up converter to (N&#x2212;1) predetermined voltage values in response to the first signal and the second signal and before operation of the step-up converter begins.

Soft start systems and methods for multi-stage step-up converters

A voltage regulator includes at least two phases, where each phase includes an inductor connected at one end to a load, a switching device that opens and closes to connect another end of the inductor to and from an input voltage; and a pulse generator that selectively closes the switching device. A phase manager module selectively triggers a pulse generator to close its switching device for a closed period when a third signal is in a first state. A comparator module selectively sets the third signal to the first state based on a ramp voltage. A ramp generator module maintains the ramp voltage at a predetermined reset voltage for a predetermined ramp reset period after the third signal transitions to the first state. The predetermined ramp reset period is less than a minimum value of the closed period. This allows the switching devices of multiple phases to be closed simultaneously.

Multi-phase voltage regulator control systems and methods

A coupled inductor array has length, width, and height. The coupled inductor array includes a monolithic magnetic core formed of a magnetic material having a distributed gap, and a plurality of windings embedded in the monolithic magnetic core. Each winding forms a respective winding loop of one or more turns around a respective winding axis, and each winding axis extends in the height direction. Areas of the monolithic magnetic core enclosed by the winding loops are greater than areas of the monolithic magnetic core outside of the winding loops, as seen when the coupled inductor array is viewed cross-sectionally in the height direction. One possible application of the coupled inductor array is in a multi-phase switching power converter.

Coupled inductor arrays and associated methods

A system includes a multi-phase switching converter and a converter control module. The multi-phase switching converter receives an input voltage and that supplies an output voltage to a load via a plurality of phases. Each phase includes a plurality of switches, an on-time generator module that determines an on-time of the switches, and a switch control module that controls a switching frequency of the switches based on the on-time and a clock signal, and an inductance that connects the switches to the load. The converter control module varies the switching frequency without varying the on-time or varies the on-time without varying the switching frequency when current through the load varies.

Multiphase switching converters operating over wide load ranges

A DC-to-DC converter includes first and second switches connected to each other at a node and biased by PWM pulses. A timing module determines a first time difference between a first edge of a first signal at the node and a first edge of a second signal at a control terminal of the first switch, and a second time difference between a second edge of the first signal and a second edge of the second signal. The first and second edges of the second signal correspond to first and second edges of one of the PWM pulses, respectively. A delay module delays the first and second edges of the second signal based on the first and second time differences, respectively. The delay module delays an edge of one of the PWM pulses based on an amount of change in a voltage output by a charge pump.

DC-to-DC converter with adaptive dead-time control

A DC-to-DC converter includes first and second transistors that are connected in series between a supply voltage and ground and that are driven by PWM pulses. A junction of the transistors is connected to an inductance that is connected in series to a load. A first timing module determines a first time difference between a first edge of a first signal at the junction and a first edge of a second signal at a control terminal of the first transistor. A second timing module determines a second time difference between a second edge of the first signal and a second edge of the second signal. The first and second edges of the second signal respectively correspond to first and second edges of one of the PWM pulses. A delay module delays the first and second edges of the second signal respectively based on the first and second time differences.

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North Andover, MA, United States of America

Serhii Mikhailovich Zhak