Multiphase voltage regulator using coupled inductors

摘要

In response to a condition not being met, asserting a control input of a driver to close a low side switch in a phase leg of a multiphase voltage regulator using coupled inductors, de-asserting the control input in response to a signal to close a high side switch of the phase leg, and asserting the control input in response to a signal to open the high side switch; and in response to the condition not being met, de-asserting the control input, asserting the control input in response to a signal to close a high side switch of another phase leg, and de-asserting the control input in response to a signal to open the high side switch of the other phase leg and to the current in the phase leg being less than a threshold.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
in response to a first condition not being met:
asserting a control input of a driver to close a low side switch of a first phase leg of a multiphase voltage regulator, wherein the first phase leg includes a first inductor;in response to a signal to close a first high side switch of the first phase leg, de-asserting the control input to open the low side switch; andin response to a signal to open the first high side switch, asserting the control input to close the low side switch; in response to the first condition being met:
de-asserting the control input to open the low side switch;in response to a signal to close a second high side switch of a second phase leg of the multiphase voltage regulator and to the control input being de-asserted, asserting the control input to close the low side switch, wherein the second phase leg comprises a second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor; andin response to a signal to open the second high side switch and to a second condition being met, wherein the second condition includes the control input being asserted, de-asserting the control input to open the low side switch; and determining a value of a current flowing through the first inductor, wherein the determining further comprises calculating the value of the current based on a leakage inductance of the first inductor, a magnetizing inductance of the first inductor, an input voltage to the voltage regulator and an output voltage of the voltage regulator; wherein the second condition further comprises the value of the current flowing through the first inductor being less than or equal to a predetermined value.