Pulse Frequency Modulation Control Methods for Multi-Phase Power Converters with Coupled Inductors

A method, comprising:

• performing a comparison of a voltage level of a regulated power supply node to a reference voltage level;
• initiating, based on results of the comparison, an active period of a power converter circuit that includes a first phase circuit and a second phase circuit coupled to the regulated power supply node via coupled inductors that includes a first inductor and a second inductor;
• in response to initiating the active period, activating the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit in parallel for a starting time period;
• in response to determining the starting time period has elapsed:
• performing a first plurality of charge cycles by the first phase circuit;
• performing a second plurality of charge cycles by the second phase circuit, wherein after respective initial charge cycles of the first plurality of charge cycle and the second plurality of charge cycles have elapsed, the second plurality of charge cycles lag the first plurality of charge cycles;
• and
• halting the active period, in response to determining that respective numbers of the first plurality of charge cycles and the second plurality of charge cycles have completed.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a functional circuit block coupled to a regulated power supply node;
• and
• a power converter circuit coupled to the regulated power supply node via coupled inductors, wherein the power converter circuit includes a first phase circuit coupled to regulated power supply node via a first inductor of the coupled inductors, and a second phase circuit coupled to the regulated power supply node via a second inductor of the coupled inductors, and wherein the power converter circuit is configured to:
• perform a comparison of a voltage level of the regulated power supply node to a reference voltage level;
• initiate an active period based on results of the comparison;
• activate, in parallel, the first phase circuit and the second phase circuit for a starting time period, in response to an initiation of the active period.
• wherein the first phase circuit is configured, in response to a determination that the starting time period has elapsed, to perform a first plurality of charge cycles;
• wherein second phase circuit is configured, in response to the determination that the starting time period has elapsed, to perform a second plurality of charge cycles, wherein after respective initial charge cycles of the first plurality of charge cycle and the second plurality of charge cycles have elapsed, the second plurality of charge cycles lag the first plurality of charge cycles;
• and
• wherein the power converter circuit is further configured to halt the active period, in response to a determination that respective numbers of the first plurality of charge cycles and the second plurality of charge cycles have elapsed.