Multiphase power converter with different voltage positioning per phase

A method comprising:

• generating, by a power conversion circuit, a power signal on a regulated power supply node using a voltage level of a reference signal;
• monitoring, by the power conversion circuit, a value of a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit;
• setting, by the power conversion circuit, a threshold value using a determined value for a leakage current of the load circuit;
• and
• in response to determining that the value of the load current is less than the threshold value, setting, by the power conversion circuit, the reference signal to a constant voltage level, and otherwise, modifying, by the power conversion circuit, the voltage level of the reference signal using the value of the load current.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first phase circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node and configured, in response to being enabled, to generate a first power signal on the regulated power supply node using a first reference voltage level that is independent of a load current being drawn from the regulated power supply node by a load circuit;
• a second phase circuit coupled to the regulated power supply node and configured, in response to being enabled, to generate a second power signal on the regulated power supply node using a second reference voltage level that is based on the load current;
• and
• a control circuit configured to:
• set a threshold value based on an idle state current corresponding to the load current while the load circuit is in an idle state;
• and
• enable the first phase circuit in response to a determination that the load current is less than or equal to the threshold value.