Dual-switching and dual-linear power controller chip

Abstract

The invention provides a new hybrid 4-in-1 power controller chip for a PC mainboard which integrates a synchronous buck switching regulator to supply the CPU core voltage, a standard buck switching regulator for I/O circuits, a linear controller for the GTL bus, and a linear regulator with built-in pass transistor for a clock generator. On this basis, a hybrid power system for a PC mainboard is constructed. As compared with the conventional separate power systems on a PC mainboard, the hybrid power system of the present invention can save board area and reduce cost. Test results show this system has high precision and its synchronous switching regulator meets the specifications of Intel's VRM8.4 design guidelines for Pentium III CPUs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.