Multi-channel control methods for switched power converters

A sample and control method for use in a pulse-driven power converter, where said power converter has a converter output voltage that, when applied to a load, is prone to include an output ripple voltage portion that is a result of the pulsed-driving of the power converter,

• where said power converter includes an inductor subjected to inductor-driving voltage pulses each having pulse waveform features including a leading edge and a trailing edge, the inductor developing an inductor current in response to said inductor-driving voltage pulses,
• where said power converter includes an capacitor coupled to receive at least part of said inductor current and to convert the received inductor current into said converter output voltage;
• the method comprising:
• (a) programmably scheduling first timings for leading edges of an inductor-driving first voltage pulse to occur in synchronism with a reference count signal that is common to at least one other pulse-driven power converter, where the common reference count signal counts through a sequence of successive timing values;
• (b) programmably scheduling second timings for obtaining first samples of the converter output voltage by sampling the converter output voltage at second timing points synchronized to the reference count signal, to thereby substantially exclude from the first samples, effects of the output ripple voltage portion.

An integrated circuit for triggering state changes in pulsed drive signals output to a plurality of individually controllable and pulse-driven operating channels, the integrated circuit comprising:

• (a) a reference count generator that generates a common reference count signal, where the common reference count signal counts through a sequence of successive timing values;
• (b) a trigger value generator that generates at least one respective trigger value signal for each pulse-driven operating channel, where the generated trigger value signal has a respective trigger value that is to be compared against the successive timing values of the common reference count signal;
• and
• (c) comparator means for comparing the common reference count signal against the at least one, generated and respective trigger value signal of each pulse-driven operating channel, said comparator means outputting a respective comparison output signal for a given operating channel upon satisfaction of a predefined comparison condition between compared values of the common reference count signal and the at least one respective trigger value signal of the given operating channel, where the respective comparison output signal is capable of invoking a change in the pulsed drive signal of the given operating channel.