Preventing thermal events in a multiphase voltage regulator device

A multiphase voltage regulator device, comprising:

• a plurality of powerstages coupled in parallel between a power input connector and a voltage regulator power output connector;
• a plurality of current sensors, each current sensor measuring the amount of current passing through one of the powerstages;
• a dedicated field-effect transistor that is separate from the powerstages, wherein the dedicated field-effect transistor has a source terminal connected to the power input connector, a drain terminal connected to a ground connector, and a gate;
• and
• a controller connected to each powerstage, each current sensor, and the gate of the dedicated field-effect transistor, wherein the controller is configured to assert a hard short signal to the gate of the field-effect transistor in response to identifying that the measured amount of current passing through any of the powerstages is greater than a predetermined current threshold, and wherein the hard short signal causes the dedicated field-effect transistor to turn on and cause a hard short condition by electrically connecting the power input connector to the ground connector.

A method, comprising:

• controlling, by a controller of a multiphase voltage regulator device, the operation of a plurality of powerstages of the multiphase voltage regulator device that are coupled in parallel between a power input connector and a voltage regulator power output connector, wherein each powerstage includes a power output stage and a control circuit that is connected to the power output stage and the controller;
• monitoring, by the controller, an amount of current measured by each of a plurality of current sensors, each current sensor configured to measure an amount of current passing through the power output stage of a respective one of the plurality of powerstages;
• identifying, by the controller, that the measured amount of current passing through the power output stage of any of the powerstages is greater than a predetermined current threshold;
• and
• asserting, by the controller, a hard short signal to the control circuit of one or more of the powerstages in response to identifying that the measured amount of current passing through the power output stage of any of the powerstages is greater than the predetermined current threshold,
• wherein, for the one or more of the powerstages receiving the hard short signal, the control circuit of the powerstage is configured to hold the output power stage of the powerstage in a hard short condition by electrically connecting the power input connector to a ground connector in response to receiving the hard short signal.