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US 9,853,546 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for reducing overshoot and undershoot using a reconfigurable inductor for switching mode voltage
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorsDonghwi Kim, Sergio Augusto Clavijo, Tae H. Kim, James S. Dinh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and methods for reducing overshoot and undershoot using a reconfigurable inductor in a switching voltage regulator. Specifically, the switching voltage regulator includes a reconfigurable inductor, the reconfigurable inductor has a conductive control ring, and the conductive control ring has an adjustable enclosed area controlled by at least a first switch, wherein the reconfigurable inductor has a varying inductance based on a state of at least the first switch and the adjustable enclosed area of the conductive control ring is shown.
Claims25
A voltage regulator, comprising:
- a reconfigurable inductor;
- the reconfigurable inductor having a conductive control ring, the conductive control ring having an adjustable enclosed area controlled by at least a first switch, wherein the adjustable enclosed area is configured to generate opposing field lines to intersect with magnetic field lines generated by the reconfigurable inductor, wherein the reconfigurable inductor has a varying inductance based on a state of at least the first switch and the adjustable enclosed area of the conductive control ring;
- and
- a controller electrically coupled to the conductive control ring to adjust a total opposing magnetic flux based on the adjustable enclosed area, wherein the varying inductance of the reconfigurable inductor is adjusted based on the opposing field lines.
1 more element
A method to reduce undershoot in a switching voltage regulator, the method comprising:
- determining whether the switching voltage regulator is operating in a voltage sensing voltage regulator (VR) mode or a current sensing VR mode, wherein the switching voltage regulator has a controller and a reconfigurable inductor configured during a load transient moment, the reconfigurable inductor has a conductive control ring, the conductive control ring has an adjustable enclosed area controlled by at least a first switch, the adjustable enclosed area is configured to generate opposing field lines to intersect with magnetic field lines generated by the reconfigurable inductor, wherein the reconfigurable inductor further has a varying inductance based on a state of at least the first switch and the adjustable enclosed area of the conductive control ring, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the conductive control ring to adjust a total opposing magnetic flux based on the adjustable enclosed area, and wherein the varying inductance of the reconfigurable inductor is adjusted based on the opposing field lines;
- determining whether a first reference voltage is greater than a second reference voltage when the switching voltage regulator is operating in the voltage sensing VR mode, wherein determining whether the switching voltage regulator is operating in the voltage sensing VR mode further comprises:
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in an off state when the first reference voltage is not greater than the second reference voltage, and
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in an on state when the first reference voltage is greater than the second reference voltage;
- and
- determining whether a third reference voltage is greater than a fourth reference voltage when the switching voltage regulator is operating in the current sensing VR mode, wherein determining whether the switching voltage regulator is operating in the current sensing VR further comprises:
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in the off state when the third reference voltage is not greater than the fourth reference voltage, and
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in the on state when the third reference voltage is greater than the fourth reference voltage.
5 more elements
A method to reduce overshoot in a switching voltage regulator, the method comprising:
- determining whether the switching voltage regulator is operating in a voltage sensing voltage regulator (VR) mode or a current sensing VR mode, wherein the switching voltage regulator has a controller and a reconfigurable inductor configured during a load transient moment, the reconfigurable inductor has a conductive control ring, the conductive control ring has an adjustable enclosed area controlled by at least a first switch, the adjustable enclosed area is configured to generate opposing field lines to intersect with magnetic field lines generated by the reconfigurable inductor, wherein the reconfigurable inductor further has a varying inductance based on a state of at least the first switch and the adjustable enclosed area of the conductive control ring, wherein the controller electrically coupled to the conductive control ring to adjust a total opposing magnetic flux based on the adjustable enclosed area, and wherein the varying inductance of the reconfigurable inductor is adjusted based on the opposing field lines;
- determining whether a first reference voltage is greater than a second reference voltage when the switching voltage regulator is operating in the voltage sensing VR mode, wherein determining whether the switching voltage regulator is operating in the voltage sensing VR mode further comprises:
- maintaining a first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in an off state when the first reference voltage is not greater than the second reference voltage, and
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in an on state when the first reference voltage is greater than the second reference voltage;
- and
- determining whether a third reference voltage is greater than a fourth reference voltage when the switching voltage regulator is operating in the current sensing VR mode, wherein determining whether the switching voltage regulator is operating in the current sensing VR further comprises:
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in the off state when the third reference voltage is not greater than the fourth reference voltage, and
- maintaining the first switch in the reconfigurable inductor in the on state when the third reference voltage is greater than the fourth reference voltage.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.