Adapting split-transistor switching power supply based on condition

Abstract

Techniques for controlling a switching converter. In an example, the converter includes a switching element and a logic circuit. The switching element includes a plurality of parallel-coupled transistors. The logic circuit is configured to initially provide one or more gate drive signals to one or more of the parallel-coupled transistors, respectively, but not to all of the transistors. After a delay period, the logic circuit is further configured to provide a respective gate drive signal to all or an otherwise larger number of the transistors. The initially-provided one or more gate signals is/are based on one or more conditions associated with the converter, such as RdsOn associated with the switching element and/or temperature. In this manner, a switching transistor that is adaptively-sized based on the condition(s) is initially switched to damp ringing, and a larger switching transistor (e.g., all transistors in parallel) is subsequently switched for low conduction loss.