Single-input, multi-output direct-current-to-direct current converters and associated methods

A single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter, comprising:

• a power conversion stage electrically coupled between an input power node and a switching node, the power conversion stage including a first power conversion switching device electrically coupled between the switching node and a reference node;
• a first output switching block including a first input enhancement mode, N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (first input NMOS FET) electrically coupled between the switching node and a first internal node, NMOS FET electrically coupled between the first internal node and a first output power node, first bootstrap circuitry configured to generate a first bootstrap power supply rail referenced to the first internal node, first input switch driver circuitry configured to drive a gate of the first input NMOS FET and being electrically powered by the first bootstrap power supply rail, and first output switch driver circuitry configured to drive a gate of the first output NMOS FET and being electrically powered by the first bootstrap power supply rail;
• and
• a second output switching block including a second input NMOS FET electrically coupled between the switching node and a second internal node, a second output NMOS FET electrically coupled between the second internal node and a second output power node, second bootstrap circuitry configured to generate a second bootstrap power supply rail referenced to the second internal node, second input switch driver circuitry configured to drive a gate of the second input NMOS FET and being electrically powered by the second bootstrap power supply rail, and second output switch driver circuitry configured to drive a gate of the second output NMOS FET and being electrically powered by the second bootstrap power supply rail.

A method for controlling a plurality of output switching blocks in a single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) direct-current-to-direct-current (DC-to-DC) converter, the method comprising, in each of the plurality of output switching blocks:

• generating a respective bootstrap power supply rail of the output switching block referenced to a respective internal node of the output switching block;
• driving a gate of a respective input enhancement mode, N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (input NMOS FET) of the output switching block between a voltage of the respective bootstrap power supply rail of the output switching block and a voltage of the respective internal node of the output switching block, a drain of the respective input NMOS FET of the output switching block being electrically coupled to a switching node of the SIMO DC-to-DC converter, and a source of the respective input NMOS FET of the output switching block being electrically coupled to the respective internal node of the output switching block;
• and
• driving a gate of a respective output enhancement mode, N-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (output NMOS FET) of the output switching block between a voltage of the respective bootstrap power supply rail of the output switching block and a voltage of the respective internal node of the output switching block, a drain of the respective output NMOS FET of the output switching block being electrically coupled to a respective output power node of the output switching block, and a source of the respective output NMOS FET of the output switching block being electrically coupled to the respective internal node of the output switching block.