Dual mode voltage regulator with dynamic reconfiguration capability

摘要

A dual mode voltage regulator according to one embodiment includes a passive regulator circuit; a switching regulator circuit; and a controller circuit configured to monitor operational parameters of the dual mode voltage regulator and selectively couple either the passive regulator circuit or the switching regulator circuit between an input voltage port and an output load. The selective coupling is based on the monitoring of parameters including current through the output load, voltage at the input voltage port and voltage at the output load as well as the availability of a system clock signal.

主权项

1. A dual mode voltage regulator, comprising:
an input voltage port; an output voltage port; a passive regulator circuit; a switching regulator circuit; and a controller circuit to monitor operational parameters of said dual mode voltage regulator and selectively couple one of said passive regulator circuit and said switching regulator circuit between said input voltage port and said output voltage port, said selective coupling based on said monitoring; and wherein the controller circuit also to synchronize a first transition from the switching regulator circuit to the passive regulator circuit so that the first transition occurs at an end of a clock cycle of the switching regulator circuit, and to synchronize a second transition from the passive regulator circuit to the switching regulator circuit so that the second transition occurs at a start of the clock cycle of the switching regulator circuit.