Dc-dc converters having reference voltage predistortion for optimal dynamic voltage scaling response

A method of operating a DC-DC converter, the method comprising:

• providing a first switch coupled to a second switch at a switch node, the first switch coupled to an input terminal and the second switch coupled to ground, and the switch node coupled to an output terminal;
• receiving a command specifying a target output voltage and a desired ramp, the desired ramp having a desired ramp rate and a desired transition time;
• generating a pre-distorted reference signal in response to the command, wherein the pre-distorted reference signal comprises a compensation component that compensates for dynamic response characteristics of the DC-DC converter;
• and
• regulating an output voltage at the output terminal via the first and second switches based on the pre-distorted reference signal such that the output voltage tracks the target output voltage and desired ramp rate.

A circuit comprising:

• a first switch coupled to a second switch at a switch node, the first switch coupled to an input terminal and the second switch coupled to ground, and the switch node coupled to an output terminal;
• a control circuit coupled to the first and second switches, and arranged to generate an output voltage at the output terminal via the first and second switches, the control circuit comprising a reference voltage generation circuit arranged to generate a pre-distorted reference signal in response to a command specifying a target output voltage and a desired ramp, the desired ramp having a desired ramp rate and a desired transition time;
• and
• wherein the pre-distorted reference signal is calculated based on the desired ramp rate plus an exponential decay term, the exponential decay term comprising an amplitude factor and a time constant, such that the control circuit regulates the output voltage to track the target output voltage and desired ramp rate.