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US 8,299,763 B2Granted
Digital low dropout regulator
AssigneeMarvell World Trade Ltd.
InventorSehat Sutardja
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit includes a regulator. The regulator includes first and second inductors and first and second arrays of switches. An output of the second inductor is connected to an output of the first inductor. The first array of switches is configured to receive an input voltage and is connected to an input of and in series with the first inductor. The second array of switches is configured to receive the input voltage and is connected to an input of and in series with the second inductor. An output voltage of the regulator is provided at the outputs of the first and second inductors. A controller is configured to detect and regulate the output voltage by generating control signals based on the output voltage. States of switches in the first and second arrays of switches are controlled by respective ones of the control signals.
Claims21
A circuit comprising:
- at least one regulator comprising
- a first inductor having an input and an output;
- a second inductor having an input and an output, wherein the output of the second inductor is connected to the output of the first inductor;
- a first array of switches (i) connected to the input of the first inductor, (ii) connected in series with the first inductor, (iii) configured to receive an input voltage from an input voltage source, and (iv) comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein the first switch is connected in parallel with the second switch;
- and
- a second array of switches (i) connected to the input of the second inductor, (ii) connected in series with the second inductor, (iii) configured to receive the input voltage, and (iv) comprising a third switch and a fourth switch, wherein the third switch is connected in parallel with the fourth switch,
- wherein an output voltage of the at least one regulator is provided at (i) the output of the first inductor, and (ii) the output of the second inductor;
- and
- a controller configured to (i) detect the output voltage, and (ii) regulate the output voltage by generating control signals based on the output voltage, wherein states of the first array of switches and states of the second array of switches are controlled by respective ones of the control signals.
6 more elements
A circuit comprising:
- at least one regulator comprising
- a first inductor having an input and an output,
- a second inductor having an input and an output, wherein the output of the second inductor is connected to the output of the first inductor,
- a first array of switches (i) connected to the input of the first inductor, (ii) connected in series with the first inductor, (iii) configured to receive an input voltage from an input voltage source, and (iv) connected in parallel between the input voltage source and a reference voltage source,
- wherein the first array of switches includes inputs and outputs, wherein the inputs of the first array of switches are connected to (i) the input voltage source, and (ii) the input of the first inductor, and wherein the outputs of the first array of switches are connected to the reference voltage source;
- and
- a second array of switches (i) connected to the input of the second inductor, (ii) connected in series with the second inductor, (iii) connected in parallel between the input voltage source and the reference voltage source, and (iv) configured to receive the input voltage,
- wherein the second array of switches includes inputs and outputs, wherein the inputs of the second array of switches are connected to (i) the input voltage, and (ii) the input of the second inductor, and wherein the outputs of the second array of switches are connected to the reference voltage source,
- wherein an output voltage of the at least one regulator is provided at (i) the output of the first inductor, and (ii) the output of the second inductor;
- and
- a controller configured to (i) detect the output voltage, and (ii) regulate the output voltage by generating control signals based on the output voltage, wherein states of the first array of switches and states of the second array of switches are controlled by respective ones of the control signals.
8 more elements
A circuit comprising:
- at least one regulator comprising
- a first inductor having an input and an output,
- a second inductor having an input and an output, wherein the output of the second inductor is connected to the output of the first inductor,
- a first array of switches (i) connected to the input of the first inductor, (ii) connected in series with the first inductor, and (iii) configured to receive an input voltage from an input voltage source, and
- a second array of switches (i) connected to the input of the second inductor, (ii) connected in series with the second inductor, and (iii) configured to receive the input voltage,
- wherein an output voltage of the at least one regulator is provided at (i) the output of the first inductor, and (ii) the output of the second inductor;
- a controller configured to (i) detect the output voltage, and (ii) regulate the output voltage by generating control signals based on the output voltage, wherein states of the first array of switches and states of the second array of switches are controlled by respective ones of the control signals;
- and
- a direct current-to-direct current converter configured to (i) generate the input voltage, and (ii) adjust the input voltage based on a control signal received from the controller.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.