Current sharing for a multi-phase power converter

A multi-phase power converter, comprising:

• a plurality of phases, each phase configured to deliver a portion of a total current of the multi-phase power converter to a load connected to an output of the multi-phase power converter and comprising at least two power stages coupled in parallel;
• and
• a controller configured to generate a separate switching control signal for each phase,
• wherein the same switching control signal is provided to each parallel-coupled power stage of the same phase,
• wherein each power stage of each phase is coupled to the output of the multi-phase power converter and comprises:
• a first switch device configured to connect the load to a supply voltage in a first switching state of the power stage;
• a second switch device configured to connect the load to ground in a second switching state of the power stage;
• an inductor configured to couple an output of the power stage to the output of the multi-phase power converter;
• driver circuitry configured to generate gate drive signals for gates of the first and the second switch devices, for setting the power stage in the first switching state, the second switching state or a non-switching state in which both switch devices are off, wherein a duration of each state and a timing transition between the states is indicated by the corresponding switching control signal generated by the controller;
• current sense circuitry configured to measure current flowing through at least one of the switch devices;
• and
• timing circuitry configured to adjust the timing transition between the switching states so as to change an effective duration of the first switching state and/or the second switching state relative to a reference duration defined by the switching control signal generated by the controller for the phase that includes the power stage, wherein the adjustment to the timing transition is based on the magnitude of the current measured by the current sense circuitry and independent of the current measured for the other power stages of the same phase.

An electronic system, comprising:

• a circuit board;
• and
• one or more electronic circuits attached to the board and presenting a load to a multiphase power converter or power supply attached to the circuit board,
• wherein the multiphase power converter implements the power supply, is configured to provide power to the load, and comprises:
• a plurality of phases, each phase configured to deliver current to the load and comprising at least two power stages coupled in parallel;
• and
• a controller configured to provide a separate switching control signal to each phase,
• wherein each power stage of each phase comprises:
• a first switch device configured to connect the load to a supply voltage in a first switching state of the power stage;
• a second switch device configured to connect the load to ground in a second switching state of the power stage;
• driver circuitry configured to generate gate drive signals for gates of the first and the second switch devices, for setting the power stage in the first switching state, the second switching state or a non-switching state in which both switch devices are off, wherein a duration of each state and a timing transition between the states is indicated by the corresponding switching control signal generated by the controller;
• current sense circuitry configured to measure current flowing through at least one of the switch devices;
• and
• timing circuitry configured to adjust the timing transition between the switching states so as to change an effective duration of the first switching state and/or the second switching state relative to a reference duration defined by the switching control signal generated by the controller for the phase that includes the power stage, wherein the adjustment to the timing transition is based on the magnitude of the current measured by the current sense circuitry and independent of the current measured for the other power stages of the same phase.