Varying operation of a voltage regulator, and components thereof, based upon load conditions

摘要

A method for operating a voltage regulator controller, for use in a voltage regulator including coupled inductors, is provided as follows. A first signal is generated for driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. A second signal is generated driving a first switch of the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator determines whether a light-load condition exists. Upon determining the existence of a light-load condition, adjusting the phase difference between said first and second signals so that the first and second signals are approximately in-phase.

主权项

1. A controller for a voltage regulator, comprising:
a first controller to generate a first signal to drive a first switch of the voltage regulator; a first inductor coupled to an output of the first switch; a second controller to generate a second signal to drive a second switch of the voltage regulator; a second inductor coupled to an output of the second switch, the first inductor and the second inductor inductively coupled; and a comparator coupled to an output of the voltage regulator, an input of the first controller and an input of the second controller, wherein the comparator is operable to determine if a light-load condition exists, and if a light-load condition exists, generate a third signal to adjust a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal so that the first signal and the second signal are approximately in-phase.