Systems and methods for dropping and/or adding phases in multiphase regulators

摘要

Methods and systems for dropping and/or adding phases in multiphase regulators according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with multiple output circuits configured to deliver power to a load and a controller. The controller may be connected to each of the output circuits, such as to drive the output circuits. The controller may be adapted to selectively disable and/or enable phases. For example, the controller may disable one output circuit without disabling another output circuit. In addition, the controller may smoothly reduce the power delivered to the load by the output circuit prior to disabling it, for example to control output glitches.

主权项

1. A power supply for supplying power to a load, comprising:
a plurality of output circuits configured to deliver power to the load; and a controller connected to each of the output circuits, wherein the controller is adapted to:
determine a number of the output circuits to remain enabled and a number of the output circuits to be disabled based on at least one of load current data and voltage data analyzed by the controller;begin a phase dropping process in continuous current mode during which at least a first one of the output circuits is selectively disabled without disabling at least a second one of the output circuits; andsmoothly reduce the power delivered to the load by the first output circuit prior to disabling the first output circuit, by reducing a duty cycle of the first output circuit and increasing the duty cycle of at least the second output circuit so that the first output circuit continues to switch during the phase dropping process and phase currents of the output circuits are redistributed so that an average or instantaneous current provided by the first output circuit to the load is gradually reduced to substantially zero prior to disabling the first output circuit.