Digital current mode control for multi-phase voltage regulator circuits
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsSanjay Pant, Fabio Gozzini, Hubert Attah, Jonathan F. Bolus, Wenxun Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage regulator circuit included in a computer system may include multiple phase circuits each coupled to a regulated power supply node via a corresponding inductor. The phase circuits may modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply node using respective control signals generated by a digital control circuit that processes multiple data bits. An analog-to-digital converter circuit may compare the voltage level of the regulated power supply node to multiple reference voltage levels and sample the resultant comparisons to generate the multiple data bits.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply node via respective inductors of a plurality of inductors, wherein the plurality of phase circuits includes a given phase circuit configured to modify a voltage level of the regulated power supply node using either a give control signal of a plurality of control signals or a given pulse signal of a plurality of pulse signals;
- and
- a control circuit configured to:
- check respective statuses of the plurality of phase circuits;
- and
- in response to a determination that at least one phase circuit is initializing, generate, using results of a comparison of the voltage level of the regulated power supply node and a threshold value, the plurality of pulse signals.
A method, comprising:
- checking respective status of a plurality of phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply node via respective inductors of a plurality of inductors;
- in response to determining that at least one phase circuit of the plurality of phase circuits is initializing:
- bypassing a control path of a given phase circuit the plurality of phase circuits;
- and
- generating a plurality of plurality of pulse signals;
- and
- adjusting, by the given phase circuit, a voltage level of the regulated power supply node using a given pulse signal of the plurality of pulse signals.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of circuit blocks coupled to a regulated power supply node;
- a power management unit that includes a plurality of phase circuits coupled to the regulated power supply node via respective ones of a plurality of inductors, wherein the power management unit is configured to:
- check respective status of a plurality of phase circuits;
- in response to a determination that at least one phase circuit of the plurality of phase circuits is initializing:
- bypass a control path of a given phase circuit of the plurality of phase circuits;
- and
- generate a plurality of plurality of pulse signals;
- and
- activate, using a given pulse signal of the plurality of pulse signals, the given phase circuit to adjust voltage level of the regulated power supply node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.