Power supply circuit with scalable performance and method for operating the power supply circuit

A power supply circuit comprising:

• a plurality of power elements configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage;
• a driver circuit coupled to the power elements and configured to drive the power elements;
• a regulator controller coupled to the power elements and configured to control the power elements for the conversion of the input voltage to the output voltage;
• and
• at least one bypass switch coupled to the power elements, wherein the at least one bypass switch is used to bypass at least one of the power elements,
• wherein the power elements, the driver circuit and the regulator controller are integrated within an integrated circuit chip, and wherein the at least one bypass switch is located outside of the integrated circuit chip.

A power supply circuit comprising:

• four power elements configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage;
• a driver circuit coupled to the four power elements and configured to drive the four power elements;
• a regulator controller coupled to the four power elements and configured to control the four power elements for the conversion of the input voltage to the output voltage;
• a first bypass switch, wherein the first bypass switch is connected in parallel with only a first power element of the four power elements and is used to bypass the first power element;
• and
• a second bypass switch, wherein the second bypass switch is connected in parallel with only a second power element of the four power elements and is used to bypass the second power element.

A method for operating a power supply circuit, the method comprising:

• selecting a buck operational mode or a boost operational mode for the power supply circuit;
• in the buck operational mode, converting an input voltage to an output voltage that is lower than the input voltage using a plurality of power elements of the power supply circuit;
• in the boost operational mode, converting the input voltage to the output voltage that is higher than the input voltage using the power elements;
• and
• bypassing at least one of the power elements using at least one bypass switch, comprising:
• switching on or off each of the at least one bypass switch at transitions between the buck operational mode and the boost operational mode;
• and
• bypassing one of the power elements that is not needed for the buck operational mode or the boost operational mode in which the power supply circuit is operating using each of the at least one bypass switch,
• the method further comprising:
• adding a bypass switch to the at least one bypass switch;
• or
• removing a bypass switch from the at least one bypass switch.