Mode transition of power stage circuit for switching capacitor converter

An integrated circuit, comprising:

• a switching control pin configured to receive a control signal;
• a first switching pin configured to provide a first output current;
• a second switching pin configured to provide a second output current;
• a first high-side switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first high-side switch is configured to receive an input voltage;
• a first low-side switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first low-side switch is coupled to the first switching pin, and the second terminal of the first low-side switch is configured to be coupled to a reference voltage level;
• a second high-side switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second high-side switch is coupled to the second terminal of the first high-side switch;
• a second low-side switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second low-side switch is coupled to the second terminal of the second high-side switch and the second switching pin, and the second terminal of the second low-side switch is configured to be coupled to the reference voltage level;
• and
• a driving control circuit configured to receive a control signal and provide a first driving signal to the first high-side switch, provide a second driving signal to the first low-side switch, provide a third driving signal to the second high-side switch and provide a fourth driving signal to the second low-side switch;
• wherein a phase replicate mode is triggered in response to a second zero crossing signal and the control signal, wherein the second zero crossing signal indicates whether the second output current is essentially zero, and
• wherein when the phase replicate mode is triggered, the third driving signal overlaps with the second driving signal.

A gate driving circuit for a switching capacitor converter, comprising:

• a driving control circuit configured to receive a control signal, provide a first phase control signal to a first phase switch circuit, and provide a second phase control signal to a second phase switch circuit;
• and
• a zero current detection circuit configured to generate a first zero crossing signal indicating whether a first output current is essentially zero, and generate a second zero crossing signal indicating whether a second output current is essentially zero;
• and
• a mode selection circuit configured to receive the first zero crossing signal and the second zero crossing signal, and trigger a phase replicate mode in response to the second zero crossing signal and the first phase control signal;
• wherein when the phase replicate mode is triggered, the second phase control signal transitions to a high logic level before the first output current decreases to essentially zero.