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US 9,755,520 B2Granted
Coupled-inductor power-supply controller for operating a power supply in a reduced-power-dissipation mode
AssigneeIntersil Americas Inc.
InventorsJia Wei, Kun Xing
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment of a power-supply controller includes first and second circuits. The first circuit is operable to cause a first current to flow through a first phase of a power supply. And the second circuit is operable to cause the second phase of the power supply to operate in a reduced-power-dissipation mode for at least a portion of a time period during which a second current magnetically induced by the first current flows through the second phase.
Claims29
A power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to cause a first current to flow through a first phase of a power supply;
- and
- a second circuit configured to cause a second phase of the power supply to operate in a reduced-power-dissipation mode by closing a reference-side switch of the second phase for no longer than a portion of a time period during which a second current magnetically induced by the first current flows through the second phase, the portion of the time period being less than the time period.
A power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to open and close a first circulation element of a first power-supply phase;
- a second circuit configured to lower and to raise a conduction impedance of a second circulation element of a second power-supply phase that is magnetically coupled to the first power-supply phase;
- and
- a third circuit configured to cause the second circuit to lower the conduction impedance of the second circulation element for only a portion of a time during which the first circulation element is closed, the portion of the time being shorter than the time.
1 more element
A power supply, comprising:
- a first voltage input node;
- a reference node;
- an output node configured to provide a regulated output signal;
- a first phase coupled to the input, reference, and output nodes;
- a second phase coupled to the input, reference, and output nodes and being magnetically coupled to the first phase;
- and
- a power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to cause a first current to flow from the input node, through the first phase, to the output node, and
- a second circuit configured to cause the second phase of the power supply to operate in a reduced-power-dissipation mode by activating a second circulation switch of the second phase for no more than a portion of a time period during which a second current magnetically induced by the first current flows from the reference node, through the second phase, to the output node, the portion of the time period being smaller than the time period.
6 more elements
A power supply, comprising:
- a first voltage input node;
- a reference node;
- an output node configured to provide a regulated output signal;
- a first phase having a first drive switch coupled between the input and output nodes;
- a second phase magnetically coupled to the first phase and having a second circulation element coupled between the reference and output nodes;
- and
- a power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to open and close the first drive switch,
- a second circuit configured to cause a magnetically induced current that flows through the second phase to flow around, and to flow through, the second circulation element, and
- a third circuit configured to cause the second circuit to cause the magnetically induced current to flow around the second circulation element for no longer than a fraction of a time during which the first drive switch is closed.
7 more elements
A power supply, comprising:
- a first voltage input node;
- a reference node;
- an output node configured to provide a regulated output signal;
- a first phase having a first drive switch coupled between the input and output nodes;
- a second phase magnetically coupled to the first phase and having a second circulation element coupled between the reference and output nodes;
- a power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to open and close the first drive switch,
- a second circuit configured to bypass and unbypass the second circulation element, and
- a third circuit configured to cause the second circuit to bypass the second circulation element for at least a portion of a time during which the first drive switch is closed
- wherein the second circulation element comprises a second circulation transistor and a diode;
- wherein the second circuit is configured to bypass the diode by activating the second circulation transistor;
- and
- wherein the second circuit is configured to unbypass the diode by inactivating the second circulation transistor.
10 more elements
A power supply, comprising:
- a first voltage input node;
- a reference node;
- an output node configured to provide a regulated output signal;
- a first phase having a first drive switch coupled between the input and output nodes;
- a second phase magnetically coupled to the first phase and having a second circulation element coupled between the reference and output nodes;
- and
- a power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to open and close the first drive switch,
- a second circuit configured to bypass and unbypass the second circulation element, and
- a third circuit configured to cause the second circuit to bypass the second circulation element for at least a portion of a time during which the first drive switch is closed
- wherein the second circulation element comprises a second circulation transistor, a switch coupled across the second circulation transistor, and a diode;
- wherein the second circuit is configured to bypass the diode by closing the switch;
- and
- wherein the second circuit is configured to unbypass the diode by opening the switch and inactivating the second circulation transistor.
11 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a load;
- and
- a power supply, comprising:
- an input node;
- a reference node;
- an output node configured to provide a regulated output signal to the load;
- a first phase having a first drive switch coupled between the input and output nodes;
- a second phase magnetically coupled to the first phase and having a second circulation element coupled between the reference and output nodes;
- and
- a power-supply controller, comprising:
- a first circuit configured to open and close the first drive switch,
- a second circuit configured to direct a magnetically induced current flowing through the second phase around the second circulation element and through the second circulation element, and
- a third circuit configured to cause the second circuit to direct the magnetically induced current around the second circulation element for only a fraction of a time period during which the first drive switch is closed.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.