Voltage regulator circuit with parallel arrangement of discontinuous conduction mode voltage regulators

A circuit comprising:

• a load;
• two or more voltage regulators coupled in parallel with one another, the two or more voltage regulators to provide a regulated output voltage to the load at an output node, wherein each of the two or more voltage regulators includes:
• an inductor coupled between the output node and an intermediate node;
• a pull-up transistor coupled between the intermediate node and a supply rail that is to receive a supply voltage;
• and
• a pull-down transistor coupled between the intermediate node and a ground terminal;
• and
• control circuitry to:
• detect that the regulated output voltage is less than a threshold of the respective voltage regulator, wherein different voltage regulators of the two or more voltage regulators have different thresholds;
• and
• turn on the pull-up transistor of the respective voltage regulator and turn off the pull-down transistor of the respective voltage regulator responsive to the detection.

A system comprising:

• an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
• a circuit block;
• two or more discontinuous conduction mode voltage regulators, including a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator, coupled in parallel with one another to provide a regulated output voltage to the circuit block, wherein each of the two or more discontinuous mode voltage regulators includes:
• a pull-up transistor coupled between an internal node and a power supply rail that is to receive a supply voltage;
• and
• a pull-down transistor coupled between the internal node and a ground terminal;
• control circuitry coupled to the two or more discontinuous mode voltage regulators, the control circuitry to:
• turn on the pull-up transistor of the first voltage regulator and turn off the pull-down transistor of the first voltage regulator when the regulated output voltage falls below a first lower threshold;
• and
• turn on the pull-up transistor of the second voltage regulator and turn off the pull-down transistor of the second voltage regulator when the regulated output voltage falls below a second lower threshold that is less than the first lower threshold;
• and
• one or more of a memory circuit, a display, or an antenna coupled to the integrated circuit.