Voltage regulation apparatus

A voltage regulator comprising:

• an input rail (16) and a common rail (18);
• a first inductor (44) to receive an input voltage from said input rail, and to output a modified output signal to a current pass capacitor (43) and a second inductor (46) with first and second terminals;
• a first terminal of the second inductor (46) sharing a common connection with the current pass capacitor (43) and a diode (38E), the output of the diode (38E) having a common connection with a switch (36D) and a first terminal of a reservoir capacitor (42),
• a second terminal of the reservoir capacitor (42) connecting to the common rail (18, 24),
• whereby in use, when the switch (36D) is closed (for a time period T1), current flows to the reservoir capacitor (42) from the first inductor (44) and current flows from the second inductor (46), via the current pass capacitor (43);
• and when the switch (36D) is opened (for a time period T2), current flows from the first inductor (44), via the current pass capacitor (43) and via diode (38E), to the reservoir capacitor (42) and current flows from the second inductor (46) via the diode (38E) to the reservoir capacitor;
• wherein the switches (36D and 36E) are controlled by a switching signal (32) so as to provide an output voltage across the terminals (22, 24) of the reservoir capacitor (42);
• and
• wherein the switches (36D and 36E) provide a controllable “on” state and a controllable “off” state in response to the switching signal (32) from a regulation sensor and a signal generator (28) whereby, during time periods T1 and T2 switching of switches (36D and 36E) and switching of diodes (38D and 38E) to conduct, controls the current in first and second inductors (44, 46) so as to provide a controllable output voltage across the terminals (22, 24) of the output of the reservoir capacitor (42), thereby limiting voltage swings across the first and second inductors by connecting capacitor (42) to the switches (36D, 36E) and diodes (38D, 38E).