Counter-based frequency hopping switching regulator

A method for controlling switching operations of a switching regulator, the method comprising:

• concurrently receiving a plurality of clock signals that oscillate at different frequencies;
• selecting a given one of the plurality of clock signals based on a control signal;
• generating, by the switching regulator, an output voltage from an input voltage by controlling one or more switches according to a switching frequency that corresponds to the selected given one of the plurality of clock signals;
• and varying the switching frequency of the switching regulator by changing a value of the control signal used to select the given one of the plurality of dock signals, according to a given one of a plurality of refresh rate control signals that corresponds to the selected given one of the plurality of dock signals having respective values that correspond to respective ones of the plurality of refresh rate control signals, wherein a first of the plurality of refresh rate control signals causes switching from a first of the plurality of clock signals to a second of the plurality of clock signals in response to the first of the plurality of refresh rate control signals reaching a first trigger value, and wherein a second of the plurality of refresh rate control signals causes switching from the first of the plurality of dock signals to the second of the plurality of dock signals in response to the second of the plurality of refresh rate control signals reaching a second trigger value.

An apparatus for controlling switching operations of a switching regulator, the apparatus comprising:

• means for concurrently receiving a plurality of clock signals that oscillate at different frequencies;
• means for selecting a given one of a plurality of clock signals based on a control signal;
• means for generating an output voltage from an input voltage by controlling one or more switches according to a switching frequency that corresponds to the selected given one of the plurality of clock signals;
• and
• means for varying the switching frequency of the switching regulator by changing a value of the control signal, used to select the given one of the plurality of clock signals, according to a given one of a plurality of refresh rate control signals that corresponds to the selected given one of the plurality of clock signals having respective values that correspond to respective ones of the plurality of refresh rate control signals, wherein a first of the plurality of refresh rate control signals causes switching from a first of the plurality of clock signals to a second of the plurality of clock signals in response to the first of the plurality of refresh rate control signals reaching a first trigger value, and wherein a second of the plurality of refresh rate control signals causes switching from the first of the plurality of clock signals to the second of the plurality of clock signals in response to the second of the plurality of refresh rate control signals reaching a second trigger value.