System and method for adapting clocking pulse widths for DC-to-DC converters

摘要

A system and method for adapting a width of a clocking pulse for clocking a DC-DC converter, wherein the width of the clocking pulse is selected based upon the duty cycle of the DC-DC converter. When the DC-DC converter operates below a predefined threshold duty cycle, a clocking pulse of a first width is selected to allow operation of the converter at a minimum predefined duty cycle with a clocking frequency that minimizes output voltage ripple. The first width corresponds to an on-time of a switching transistor of the DC-DC converter when the converter is operated at the minimum duty cycle. When the DC-DC converter operates above the predefined threshold duty cycle, a clocking pulse of a second width is selected to allow operation of the converter at high duty cycles while simultaneously avoiding missed inductor current pulses and generation of sub-harmonic voltage oscillations.