Multi-phase power supply controller and method therefor

摘要

In one embodiment, a method of forming a multi-channel power supply controller includes forming a plurality of channels configured to regulate an output voltage between first and second values, configuring the controller to select a channel that has a lowest current value and initiate forming a drive signal for that channel responsively to the output voltage having a value that is less than the first value, configuring a reset circuit for each channel to terminate the respective drive signal responsively to at least the output voltage having a value greater than the first value.

主权项

1. A multi-phase power supply controller comprising:
a first channel configured to form a first drive signal to control a first output current through a first inductor to control a value of an output voltage to a desired value; a second channel configured to form a second drive signal to control a second output current through a second inductor to control the value of the output voltage to the desired value; a first timing circuit of the first channel configured to form a first timing signal responsively to the first drive signal wherein the first timing signal is proportional to the first output current; a second timing circuit of the second channel configured to form a second timing signal responsively to the second drive signal wherein the second timing signal is proportional to the second output current; a select circuit configured to determine one of the first or second output currents having a lowest value and select a corresponding channel; a set circuit configured to form an error signal representative of a deviation of the output voltage from a desired threshold value and to responsively initiate the one of the first or second channel selected by the select circuit to form the respective first or second drive signal; a first reset circuit configured to terminate the first drive signal responsively to the first timing signal and the output voltage being no less than the desired threshold value; and a second reset circuit configured to terminate the second drive signal responsively to the second timing signal and the output voltage being no less than the desired threshold value.