System and method for determining output voltage level information from phase voltage for switched mode regulator controllers

An electronic device, comprising:

• a switching circuit for converting an input voltage to an output voltage via a phase node;
• a feedback circuit receiving said output voltage and providing a feedback voltage;
• and
• a controller chip, comprising:
• a phase pin coupled to said phase node and a feedback pin receiving said feedback voltage;
• a modulation circuit which is configured to regulate said output voltage based on said input voltage, said feedback voltage and output voltage level information, comprising:
• an error amplifier circuit coupled to said feedback pin and providing an output error voltage based on said feedback voltage;
• and
• a modulator receiving said output error voltage, said input voltage and said output voltage level information and providing said first and second gate control signals, comprising:
• a window circuit which develops first and second offset voltages based on said output error voltage;
• a transconductance circuit which develops a ripple voltage relative to said input voltage and said output voltage level information;
• a hysteretic comparator circuit which compares said ripple voltage with each of said first and second offset voltages and which provides first and second control signals indicative thereof;
• and
• a decoder circuit which receives said first and second control signals and which provides first and second gate control signals;
• and
• a filter having an input coupled to the phase pin and an output providing said output voltage level information which approximates said output voltage based on voltage of said phase pin.

A method of determining a voltage level of an output voltage by a controller chip for a switched mode regulator which operates to convert an input voltage to an output voltage via a phase node, comprising:

• receiving, by the controller chip, a phase voltage from a phase pin coupled to the phase node;
• filtering, by the controller chip, the phase voltage to provide an output sense voltage having a voltage level approximating the voltage level of the output voltage;
• receiving output voltage feedback information and providing an output voltage error indication;
• developing first and second offset voltages based on the output voltage error indication;
• developing a ripple voltage relative to the input voltage and the output sense voltage;
• comparing the ripple voltage with each of first and second offset voltages and providing first and second control signals indicative thereof;
• and
• receiving the first and second control signals and providing first and second gate control signals.