Qualcomm Incorporated

Yikai Wang

Joseph Dale Rutkowski

Jiwei Chen

Navankur Beohar

Sivaprasad Embanath

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to electronic circuits and, more particularly, to a power supply circuit and techniques for voltage regulation. One example method for voltage regulation is performed by a switched-mode power supply (SMPS). The method generally includes charging a first capacitive element during a first discharge phase of the SMPS having a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, the first voltage rail being separate from the second voltage rail. Charging the first capacitive element may include directing a first current to flow from the second voltage rail to a reference potential node through the first capacitive element. In some aspects, the method also includes generating an output voltage at the output node during a first charge phase by directing a second current to flow from the first voltage rail to an inductive element of the SMPS through the first capacitive element.

Hybrid buck converter

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a voltage transient detection circuit. The circuit generally includes a first switch having a first terminal coupled to an input signal source node, and a second switch having a first terminal coupled to the input signal source node. The apparatus includes a first shunt capacitive element coupled to a second terminal of the first switch, a second shunt capacitive element coupled to a second terminal of the second switch, a differential circuit having a first input coupled to the second terminal of the first switch, a second input coupled to the second terminal of the second switch, and an output coupled to an output node of the voltage transient detection circuit. For certain aspects, the apparatus also includes a first current source (selectively) coupled to the first shunt capacitive element and a second current source (selectively) coupled to the second shunt capacitive element.

Transient voltage detection technique

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and apparatus for switching between modes of a multi-mode power supply circuit. One example power supply circuit generally includes a switched-mode power supply (SMPS) circuit, a voltage regulator circuit having an input coupled to an output of the SMPS circuit, the voltage regulator circuit being configured to be selectively enabled, a first voltage divider selectively coupled to the output of the SMPS circuit and selectively coupled to an output of the voltage regulator circuit, and a second voltage divider coupled to the output of the voltage regulator circuit.

Digitally-assisted dynamic multi-mode power supply circuit

The present disclosure pertains to circuits and methods for controlling a boost switching regulator based on inductor current. An input voltage is coupled to a first terminal of an inductor and the second terminal of the inductor is alternately coupled between a reference voltage and a boosted output voltage. The input voltage is further coupled to a first terminal of an integrator circuit, and a second terminal of the integrator circuit may be alternately coupled between the reference voltage and the boosted output voltage, for example, to produce a voltage corresponding to a current in the inductor. The present circuit may be used for voltage control or current control modes, or both, in a boost switching regulator.

Circuits and methods for controlling a boost switching regulator based on inductor current

In one embodiment, a switching regulator includes an inductor, a first switch, and a second switch. The first and second switches generate current in the inductor. Inductor current may flow through the second switch with both a positive and negative polarity. Voltages on terminals of the second switch may be sensed, and an offset applied to generate a level shifted signal. In one embodiment, the switching regulator is a boost switching regulator, and the offset is generated using a current source. Matched MOS transistor switches may be used to couple voltages on terminals of the second switch to amplifier inputs, and the offset is introduced across an MOS switch coupled between one amplifier input and the output.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Yikai Wang