Active current sharing multiphase DC-DC converter
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado
InventorsRegan A. Zane, Dragan Maksimovic, Yang Zhang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A converter module for use as a phase in a multiphase DC-DC converter having a data bus for transferring current-sharing information is provided. The converter module includes a power stage and a controller. The power stage comprises an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for providing an output voltage and an output current. The controller is coupled to the power stage to receive a feedback signal from the power stage. The controller further comprises a data bus port configured to receive the current-sharing information from the data bus and provide updated current-sharing information to the data bus.
Claims62
A converter module for use as a phase in a multiphase DC-DC converter having a data bus for transferring current-sharing information, the converter module comprising:
- a power stage comprising an input for receiving an input voltage and an output for providing an output voltage and an output current;
- a chain controller coupled to said power stage to receive a feedback signal from said power stage and comprising a data bus port configured to receive the current-sharing information from the data bus and provide updated current-sharing information to the data bus, said chain controller being configured to:
- determine a current level being provided by said power stage,
- update the current-sharing information based upon the determined current level,
- determine a current error based upon the determined current level and the updated current-sharing information,
- control an operation of said power stage based upon the current error, and
- provide the updated current-sharing information to the data bus.
A multiphase DC-DC power converter comprising:
- a first phase comprising a first power stage and a first chain controller configured to control an operation of the first power stage;
- a second phase comprising a second power stage and a second chain controller configured to control an operation of the second power stage;
- and
- a data bus coupled to the first controller and the second controller,
- wherein the first chain controller is further configured to receive a first current-sharing information via the data bus, update the first current-sharing information to obtain a second current-sharing information, and provide the second current-sharing information to the data bus, and
- wherein the second chain controller is further configured to receive the second current-sharing information from the data bus, to update the second current-sharing information to obtain a third current-sharing information, and to provide the third current-sharing information to the data bus.
A chain control method of sharing current information between phases of a multiphase DC-DC converter, the chain control method comprising:
- receiving a first current-sharing information at a first phase via a data bus;
- updating the first current-sharing information at the first phase based upon current information of the first phase to obtain a second current-sharing information;
- providing the second current-sharing information to the data bus;
- receiving the second current-sharing information at a second phase via the data bus;
- updating the second current-sharing information at the second phase based upon current information of the second phase to obtain a third current-sharing information;
- and
- providing the second current-sharing information to the data bus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.