Multi-phase voltage converter

A multi-phase voltage converter, comprising:

• a) a control chip configured to generate N pulse distribution signals, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
• b) a power conversion module comprising N first-level conversion modules;
• c) wherein each first-level conversion module comprises at least one second-level conversion module, and each second-level conversion module comprises at least one third-level conversion module;
• d) wherein when each second-level conversion module comprises multiple third-level conversion modules, each of the multiple third-level conversion modules are coupled in parallel with each other;
• e) wherein the first-level conversion module receives a corresponding one of the N pulse distribution signals, the second-level conversion module receives a first phase distribution signal generated based on the corresponding pulse distribution signal, and each third-level conversion module receives a second phase distribution signal generated based on the first phase distribution signal;
• and
• f) wherein the control chip comprises an output voltage feedback pin configured to receive a voltage feedback signal representing an output voltage of the multi-phase voltage converter, an average current input pin configured to receive an average current signal characterizing an average value of an inductor current of a power stage circuit generated by each of the third-level conversion modules, and N output pins configured to generate the N pulse distribution signals according to the average current signal and the voltage feedback signal.

A multi-phase voltage converter, comprising:

• a) a control chip configured to generate N pulse distribution signals, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
• b) a power conversion module comprising N first-level conversion modules;
• c) wherein each first-level conversion module comprises at least one second-level conversion module, and each second-level conversion module comprises at least one third-level conversion module;
• d) wherein when each second-level conversion module comprises multiple third-level conversion modules, each of the multiple third-level conversion modules are coupled in parallel with each other;
• e) wherein the first-level conversion module receives a corresponding one of the N pulse distribution signals, the second-level conversion module receives a first phase distribution signal generated based on the corresponding pulse distribution signal, and each third-level conversion module receives a second phase distribution signal generated based on the first phase distribution signal;
• and
• f) wherein each of the second-level conversion modules other than an output inductor and an output capacitor of a power stage circuit in the third-level conversion module is integrated into a chip, the chip comprising a signal receiving pin configured to receive the first phase distribution signal, a power input pin configured to receive a supply voltage to supply power to the chip, an average current output pin configured to generate an average current signal characterizing an average value of an inductor current of a power stage circuit generated by each of the third-level conversion modules, and multiple output pins configured to respectively couple to an output capacitor or an output inductor of the power stage circuit in each third-level conversion module, wherein a number of the output pins is the same as a number of the third-level conversion modules.

A multi-phase voltage converter, comprising:

• a) a control chip configured to generate N pulse distribution signals, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
• b) a power conversion module comprising N first-level conversion modules;
• c) wherein each first-level conversion module comprises at least one second-level conversion module, and each second-level conversion module comprises at least one third-level conversion module;
• d) wherein when each second-level conversion module comprises multiple third-level conversion modules, each of the multiple third-level conversion modules are coupled in parallel with each other;
• e) wherein the first-level conversion module receives a corresponding one of the N pulse distribution signals, the second-level conversion module receives a first phase distribution signal generated based on the corresponding pulse distribution signal, and each third-level conversion module receives a second phase distribution signal generated based on the first phase distribution signal;
• and
• f) wherein each of the third-level conversion modules other than an output inductor and an output capacitor of a power stage circuit in the third-level conversion module is integrated into a chip, the chip comprising a signal receiving pin configured to receive the second phase distribution signal, a power input pin configured to receive a supply voltage to supply power to the chip, an average current output pin configured to generate an average current signal characterizing an average value of an inductor current of a power stage circuit in the third-level conversion module, and multiple output pins configured to respectively couple to an output capacitor or an output inductor of the power stage circuit.

A multi-phase voltage converter, comprising:

• a) a control chip configured to generate N pulse distribution signals, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
• b) a power conversion module comprising N first-level conversion modules;
• c) wherein each first-level conversion module comprises at least one second-level conversion module, and each second-level conversion module comprises at least one third-level conversion module;
• d) wherein when each second-level conversion module comprises multiple third-level conversion modules, each of the multiple third-level conversion modules are coupled in parallel with each other;
• e) wherein the first-level conversion module receives a corresponding one of the N pulse distribution signals, the second-level conversion module receives a first phase distribution signal generated based on the corresponding pulse distribution signal, and each third-level conversion module receives a second phase distribution signal generated based on the first phase distribution signal;
• and
• f) wherein the control chip comprises a loop control and compensation module configured to perform loop control, compensation, and protection based on an average current signal and a voltage feedback signal, a pulse distribution signal generation module configured to generate the N pulse distribution signals according to an output signal of the loop control and compensation module, and wherein the average current signal represents an average value of an inductor current of a power stage circuit generated by each of the third-level conversion modules, and wherein the voltage feedback signal represents an output voltage of the multi-phase voltage converter.