The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2023
Filed:
Aug. 29, 2022
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Jay B. Fletcher, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A voltage regulator having a multi-level, multi-phase architecture is disclosed. The circuit includes a two-level buck converter and an N-level buck converter each coupled to an output node, wherein N is an integer value of three or more. During operation, the two-level buck converter provides one of two possible voltages to a first inductor. The N-level buck converter provides, during operation, one of N voltages to a second inductor. The first and second inductors each convert respectively received voltages to currents, which are provided to a common output node. A control circuit controls the activation of transistors in each of the two-level and N-level buck converters in such a manner as to cause the voltage on the output node to be maintained at a desired level.