Apparatus for converting voltage with regulator

An apparatus for converting an input voltage from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, comprising:

• an output having one of a plurality of states:
• a regulator coupled to the output and configured to provide power at the output;
• a DC-to-DC converter coupled to the output and configured to provide power at the output;
• and
• a controller coupled with both the regulator and the DC-to-DC converter, wherein the controller is configured to activate and deactivate the regulator and the DC-to-DC converter as a function of the state of the output.

A apparatus for converting a first reference voltage at a first voltage level to an output voltage at a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level, the apparatus comprising:

• a DC-to-DC converter coupled to the first reference voltage;
• a regulator coupled to the first reference voltage;
• and
• a controller coupled with the DC-to-DC converter and the regulator, the controller being configured to signal a first state in which the DC-to-DC converter supplies the output voltage and a second state in which the regulator supplies the output voltage.

A method for use with an apparatus having a converter and a regulator and an output to provide voltage conversion from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the demand on the output;
• deactivating the regulator and activating the converter to supply the output when the demand is at a first level;
• and
• deactivating the converter and activating the regulator to supply the output when the demand is at a second level.

A system for use with a DC-to-DC converter, the system being coupleable to a load requiring at least one of high load current and low load current the system functioning to promote efficiency of said DC-to-DC converter, the system comprising:

• a linear regulator coupleable in parallel with said DC-to-DC converter, the linear regulator being coupleable to the load;
• a controller coupled to at least one of said DC-to-DC converter and said linear regulator, comprising;
• a regulator control node coupled to control operation of said linear regulator;
• a sense node coupled to sense magnitude of said load current;
• a converter node coupled to an input of said converter;
• said controller operable to deactivate said DC-to-DC converter and activate said linear regulator when sensed magnitude of said load current indicates low load current;
• wherein conversion efficiency of said DC-to-DC converter is enhanced.