Method and apparatus to provide a DC-DC converter with ripple regulation and multiphase current sharing

Abstract

A power supply including a DC—DC converter with multiphase current sharing and ripple regulation. In one embodiment, the disclosed power supply includes a plurality of power drivers coupled to supply power to the supply output. The power drivers are cyclically enabled to provide multiphase current sharing. Ripple regulation is provided with a hysteretic comparator that is coupled to receive feedback from the power supply output. The hysteretic comparator is used to clock or advance a select circuit, which is used to cyclically enable each one of the plurality of power drivers. A reset circuit is included to reset the hysteretic comparator in the event that the hysteretic comparator has not switched for an excessive amount of time. A supply current sensor is used to monitor the current drawn by the plurality of power drivers. As the amount of current drawn by any of the plurality of power drivers rises, the on cycle time of the power driver that is delivering power to the power supply output at that particular time is shortened, enabling the next power driver to deliver power.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.