# US 9,882,483 B2 · Methods for multi-phase voltage regulator control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,483 B2 - Document ID: US9882483B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/330,851 - Filed: 2016-11-07 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-19 - Assignees: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. - Applicants: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. - Inventors: Serhii M. Zhak; Brett A. Miwa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882483B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 3/1584: {with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel} - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A method of regulating voltage includes closing first and second switching devices during first and second periods in response to first and second signals, respectively. The first and second switching devices open and close to connect and disconnect first ends of first and second inductors of first and second phases of a voltage regulator to and from an input voltage, respectively. The method includes selectively generating one of the first and second signals when a third signal is in a first state; selectively setting the third signal to the first state based on a ramp voltage; resetting the ramp voltage to a predetermined reset voltage when the third signal transitions from a second state to the first state; maintaining the ramp voltage at the predetermined reset voltage for a predetermined ramp reset period after the resetting; and increasing the ramp voltage after the predetermined ramp reset period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of voltage regulating, comprising: in response to a first signal, using a first pulse generator, closing a first switching device for a first period, the first switching device opening and closing to connect and disconnect a first end of a first inductor of a first phase of a voltage regulator to and from an input voltage, wherein a second end of the first inductor being connected to a load; in response to a second signal, using a second pulse generator, closing a second switching device for a second period, the second switching device opening and closing to connect and disconnect a first end of a second inductor of a second phase of the voltage regulator to and from the input voltage, wherein a second end of the second inductor being connected to the load; selectively generating one of the first and second signals when a third signal is in a first state; selectively setting the third signal to the first state based on a ramp voltage; resetting the ramp voltage to a predetermined reset voltage when the third signal transitions from a second state to the first state; maintaining the ramp voltage at the predetermined reset voltage for a predetermined ramp reset period after the resetting; and increasing the ramp voltage after the predetermined ramp reset period, wherein the predetermined ramp reset period is less than a predetermined minimum value of the first and second periods. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined ramp reset period is less than 1/10th of the predetermined minimum value of the first and second periods. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein increasing the ramp voltage includes increasing the ramp voltage at a predetermined linear rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein increasing the ramp voltage includes the ramp voltage according to a predetermined non-linear shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein increasing the ramp voltage includes the ramp voltage according to a ramp rate and adjusting the ramp rate based on a period that the third signal is in the second state after the third signal transitions from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 further comprising decreasing the ramp rate as the period that the third signal is in the second state increases. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising generating both the first and second signals when the third signal is in the first state for greater than a predetermined period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising directly closing the first and second switching devices for greater than the first and second periods when the third signal is in the first state for greater than a predetermined period. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising setting the ramp voltage to a predetermined negative voltage that is less than the predetermined reset voltage when the third signal is in the first state for greater than a predetermined period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: toggling a fourth signal between a first state and a second state when the third signal is in the first state for greater than a predetermined period; maintaining the fourth signal in the second state when the third signal is in the first state for less than the predetermined period; and selectively generating one of the first and second signals each time that the fourth signal transitions to the first state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively adjusting at least one of the first period and the second period. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the selectively adjusting includes selectively adjusting the first period based on a first current from the first inductor to the load. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the selectively adjusting includes increasing the first period when the first current is less than an average per-phase current to the load. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the selectively adjusting includes increasing the first period based on a difference between the first current and an average per-phase current to the load. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the selectively adjusting includes decreasing the first period when the first current is greater than an average per-phase current to the load. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the selectively adjusting includes decreasing the first period at a predetermined rate when the first current is greater than the average per-phase current to the load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the selectively adjusting includes decreasing the first period based on a difference between the first current and the average per-phase current to the load. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining a total current based on a sum of first and second currents from the first and second inductors, respectively, to the load; determining a phase voltage based on the total current and a predetermined value; and setting the third signal to the first state when a sum of the ramp voltage and a compensation voltage is greater than the phase voltage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising determining the compensation voltage based on an output voltage to the load and a target voltage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further comprising setting the compensation voltage based on the target voltage minus the output voltage. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: increasing the ramp voltage according to a ramp rate; and selectively adjusting the ramp rate based on an output voltage to the load.