Multi-level driving for efficient switching regulators

An apparatus, comprising:

• a switch coupled to a power supply node and to an output path;
• a first flying capacitor;
• a switch coupled to the first flying capacitor and the output path;
• and
• a switch coupled to the output path and ground, wherein:
• the output path is coupled to a control gate of a power switch;
• and
• the switches are capable of providing N≥2 increasing voltage steps followed by N decreasing voltage steps on the output path in a charge-discharge cycle of the control gate.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a charge-recycling circuit coupled to a power source, wherein the charge-recycling circuit is capable of providing one or more intermediate voltages, and the voltage source is capable of providing a peak drive voltage;
• a multi-level driver coupled to the charge-recycling circuit, wherein the multi-level driver comprises a set of switches;
• and
• a power switch coupled to the set of switches, wherein the set of switches is capable of providing, to a control gate of the power switch, an increasing voltage staircase followed by a decreasing voltage staircase, and wherein the increasing voltage staircase comprises a ground voltage followed by the one or more intermediate voltages followed by the peak drive voltage and the decreasing voltage staircase comprises the one or more intermediate voltages followed by the ground voltage.