Apparatus and method for virtually shielding a synchronous switching regulator

Abstract

Virtual shielding is used to reduce the sources/origins of latchup and switching noise in a synchronous switching regulator. The regulator power stage may be split into two half stages. The ground bond wires of the half power stages may be positioned on opposite sides of the layout to substantially eliminate coupling between the ground bond wires. The power supply bond wire in one half power stage and the ground bond wire in the other half power stage may be positioned such that the mutual inductance between the power supply bond wire and the ground bond wire is maximized. The controller ground may be positioned substantially midway between the power supply bond wire in one half power stage and a respective ground bond wire in the other half power stage. The regulator controller may be placed between the regulator power stage and other analog circuitry to isolate the regulator power stage from the analog circuitry.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.