Methods and systems for defective phase identification and current sense calibration for multi-phase voltage regulator circuits

摘要

Methods and systems are disclosed that may be implemented to complete individual phase current sense calibration of a multi-phase voltage regulator (VR) and/or to detect any and all individual bad phases of such a VR by utilizing the reconfiguration capability of a digital VR controller-based VR in conjunction with an improved test process. The disclosed systems and methods may be employed in one example to identify that all individual phases of the multi-phase VR are operational to contribute to the output of the multi-phase VR using a rotating single phase operation testing mode. Individual phase current sense calibration may also be additionally or alternatively completed while the VR is operating under the rotating single phase operation mode.

主权项

1. A method of testing a multi-phase voltage regulator (VR) having multiple phases, comprising controlling the multi-phase VR to operate in a rotating single phase operation mode to:
first individually enable a first one of the multiple phases of the multi-phase VR by itself to produce an output voltage for a duration of time from the individually enabled first phase alone; analyze the separate individual output of the individually enabled first phase; and at least one of:
determine if the analyzed separate output from the individually enabled first phase meets a predetermined phase output criteria, orperform phase current sense calibration for the individually enabled first phase based on the analyzed separate output from the individually enabled first phase, ora combination thereof: and then individually enable a second one of the multiple phases of the multi-phase VR by itself to produce an output voltage for a duration of time from the individually enabled second phase alone; analyze the separate individual output of the individually enabled second phase; and at least one of:
determine if the analyzed separate output from the individually enabled second phase meets a predetermined phase output criteria, orperform phase current sense calibration for the individually enabled second phase based on the analyzed separate output from the individually enabled second phase, or a combination thereof.