Self-clocking multiphase power supply controller

[0002] The present invention relates to power regulation, and particularly relates to switch-mode power supplies.

[0003] Advances in one area of technology often require commensurate advances in supporting technologies to realize the full benefit of the advance. For example, observers of the microprocessor industry are familiar with “Moore's Law,” which posits that the complexity of semiconductor devices doubles every two years. Microprocessor development arguably represents the most dramatic illustration of Moore's Law. Pioneering microprocessors released in the 1970's operated at clock speeds well under 500 KHz, and included fewer than five thousand transistors. Modern microprocessors operate at clock speeds in excess of 1 GHz and include millions of transistors. Exploiting these dramatic gains required advances in a host of supporting technologies, from advances in memory technology and circuit fabrication, to advances in power supply design.

[0004] Indeed, modern microprocessors could not provide their dramatic performance gains absent today's sophisticated power supplies. For example, high-end microprocessors can consume in excess of 80 Watts of power and operate at 2 VDC or less. These requirements translate into power supply output current requirements in excess of 40 Amps, yet the power supply must maintain tight output voltage regulation, even when faced with dramatic step changes in output current. In general, modern electronic systems require responsive power supplies capable of providing relatively clean power at well-controlled voltages, over a wide range of quickly changing load conditions.

[0005] Often, the requirements placed on electronic power supplies include the dual requirements of good transient response and high efficiency. Linear voltage regulation, where a pass element such as a transistor, is used to drop a supply voltage down to a regulated value have good transient response, but can be inefficient. Linear regulation inefficiency rises with increasing input/output voltage differential. Because of the high current required by high-performance electronic systems, many primary power supplies provide a relatively high voltage, such as 12 or even 24 VDC. Regulating such voltages down to 2 VDC or less, as is common for high-performance microprocessor cores, is impractical using linear regulation.

[0006] Switch mode power regulation offers an opportunity for improved efficiency as compared to linear regulation. In switch mode power supplies, one or more reactive circuit elements are rapidly switched from one configuration to another to control the energy flowing into and out of a reactive circuit element or elements. By using reactive elements for energy storage, switch mode power supplies, sometimes referred to as switching regulators, minimize power losses when converting from one voltage to another. However, switch mode power supplies entail a host of potential problems that sometimes offset their good efficiencies.

[0007] For example, the transient response of switch mode power supplies can be compromised depending upon the control topology employed. Generally, the signal being regulated by the switch mode power supply is fed back so that the regulator can adjust some characteristic of its switching operations to maintain the desired output voltage. In certain feedback implementations, relatively slow error amplifiers reside within the control feedback loop, making the switch mode power supply slow to respond to fast load transients. Fast load transients are common in microprocessors and other complex circuits that operate under dynamic conditions.

[0008] So-called “ripple-mode” regulators use a relatively simple control feedback loop based essentially on high-speed comparator circuits that compare the regulated output voltage, or some signal proportional to the regulated output voltage to a desired output level. The regulated output signal includes some amount of ripple, arising from the switching actions of the switch mode power supply. Switching control response is improved by eliminating error amplifiers from the control loop, which are relatively slow compared to these comparator-based control loops. A constant on-time controller represents one implementation of ripple-mode control. With constant on-time, controllers, a switching controller generates turn-on pulses of a fixed width at a frequency determined by changing load conditions, and possibly changing input or output voltages.

[0009] The present invention provides an apparatus and method for ripple-mode control of a multi-phase power supply circuit. A ripple-mode switching controller provides one or more features, including cross-phase blanking, active current sharing, out-of-bounds compensation, and virtual ripple generation. Cross-phase blanking permits the controller to preserve the desired phase relationship between switching pulses it provides to the multiple output phases, even when it generates overlapping switching pulses at maximum duty cycle operation. Active current sharing compliments ripple-mode control by allowing the controller to balance the amount of load current provided by the individual output phases, based on either trimming the width of switching pulses provided to one or more output phases, or based on trimming hysteretic control points. The controller may also include an out-of-bounds function to suppress switching pulses in over-voltage situations, and virtual ripple generation to enhance ripple-mode noise immunity.

[0010] Active current sharing may be adapted to both constant on-time and hysteretic implementations of the controller. With active current sharing, the controller typically designates one output phase as a master phase. The controller then adjusts its phase switching operations to balance the current carried by each remaining output phase with respect to the master phase. This prevents one output phase from carrying an unequal or excessive share of output load current. For constant on-time operation, the controller trims the width of switching pulses provided to each of the slave output phases based on the relative amount of load current carried by each slave output phase. For hysteretic control, the controller increases or decreases the upper and lower hysteretic switching points for one or more of the slave output phases to achieve the desired current balance.

[0011] Pulse trimming or hysteretic adjustment concepts may be extended to include compensation for changes in supply or output voltages such that the controller's switching pulses are compensated for changing conditions. For example, in constant on-time applications, the controller can be configured to adjust switching pulse on-time to maintain essentially the same steady-state switching frequency over a range of supply voltages. Likewise, the controller could compensate switching pulse width to maintain steady state switching frequency for a range of selectable output voltages.

[0012] Further extending its flexibility, the controller may incorporate virtual ripple generation. A feedback signal taken from the controller's regulated output includes both actual ESR-induced output ripple, as well as the actual DC offset value of the regulated output voltage. Virtual ripple generation adds a desired amount of arbitrary ripple to this feedback signal to increase the noise immunity of ripple-mode regulation. Because the arbitrary ripple simply adds to the actual feedback signal, rather than replacing it, the controller preserves its transient response by maintaining its sensitivity to the actual DC and AC components of the regulated output voltage.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a typical switch-mode power supply circuit.

[0014] FIG. 2A is diagram of relevant waveforms associated with the power supply circuit of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 2B is a diagram of waveform details from FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram of transient operation of the power supply circuit of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a dual-phase power supply circuit according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the power supply of FIG. 4.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the current trim circuit of FIG. 5.

[0020] FIG. 7A is a diagram of the constant on-time pulse generation circuit of FIG. 5.

[0021] FIG. 7B is a diagram of the constant on-time pulse generation circuit with currenttrim features of FIG. 5.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram of relevant waveforms for the power supply circuit of FIG. 5 during both steady state and transient conditions.

[0023] FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of the control logic of FIG. 5 expanded for controlling multiple output phases.

[0024] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a power supply as in FIG. 5, but with exemplary details supporting hysteretic ripple-mode regulation.

[0025] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a current trim circuit adapted for adjustment of hysteretic switching thresholds for the power supply of FIG. 10.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical electrical system 10 that includes a switch-mode power supply controller 12, a switching circuit 14, and a load 16. The controller 12 controls switching of the switching circuit 14 to effect voltage regulation of the output voltage V_OUT. The controller includes switching control logic 20 and a comparator 22. The output circuit 14 includes a switch 26, which may be a field-effect-transistor (FET), a catch diode 27, an inductor 28, and an output capacitor 30.

[0027] The controller 12 monitors the output voltage V_OUTusing the comparator 22 and generates switching signals that turn the switch 26 on and off to regulate the output voltage V_OUT. The general operations of such switch-mode power supply circuits is well understood, and will not be discussed in detail.

[0028] Several techniques exist for monitoring the output signal being regulated by the controller 12, in this case V_OUT, and include voltage-mode and current-mode feedback. A broad class of controllers 12 regulate the output signal by generating a switching clock driven by the switching ripple in V_OUT. The switching ripple arises from switching the switch 26 on and off to effect output voltage regulation.

[0029] FIG. 2A illustrates one way in which so-called ripple mode regulation may be implemented with the controller 12. Nominally, V_OUTis maintained at a reference voltage V_REF. The output voltage V_OUTrises when the switch 26 is closed and falls when the switch 26 is open. Thus V_OUTincludes a DC component nominally at the desired voltage, with an AC ripple impressed onto this DC value. By configuring the comparator 22 to change states when V_OUTcrosses through a comparison threshold, in this case V_REF, the comparator produces clock pulses as a function of the ripple on V_OUTThus, the output of the comparator 22 transitions to high when V_OUTcrosses through V_REF, and the switch and control logic 20 turns on the output switch 26, which causes V_OUTto begin to rise. This rising V_OUTcauses the output of the comparator 22 to again change states. In short, the controller 12 effects output regulation of V_OUTby switching the switch 26 in the output circuit 14 on and off in response to clock signals generated by the ripple on the output voltage V_OUT.

[0030] FIG. 2B presents a view of the waveform shown in FIG. 2A, but over a much smaller instant of time. V_OUTis shown crossing though the comparison threshold, V_REF, which causes the comparator output V_COMPARATORto transition high. With minimal delay, the controller 12 causes its switching output signal V_SWITCHINGto transition high in response to V_COMPARATORtransitioning high. Because V_OUTdoes not respond immediately to the closing of the switch 26, V_COMPARATORdoes not immediately drop low when the output switch 26 is turned on. For a brief period of time, V_COMPARATORand V_SWITCHINGsignals are both high. Once V_OUTtransitions back above V_REF, the comparator output drops low. Note that the V_SWITCHINGsignal shown in FIG. 2B is representative of a mode of switching control referred to as constant on-time. That is, the controller 12 emits turn on pulses to the switch 26 of a fixed width, varying the frequency of the pulses to control the level of V_OUT.

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a problematic condition for typical ripple-mode controllers 12. A sudden increase in current at the load 16 can pull the output voltage V_OUTwell below the comparison threshold for a sustained period of time. Once the output voltage is a sufficient level below the comparison threshold voltage, the ripple signal no longer causes the output voltage to transition back and forth through the comparator's trip point. This causes the output from the comparator 22 to become static during the transient excursion. With static output from the comparator 22, the switching control logic 20 no longer receives a switch-clocking signal and thus ceases clocking the output switch 26 on and off.

[0032] FIG. 4 depicts an electrical circuit 40 in accordance with a two-phase implementation of the present invention. The circuit 40 includes a switching controller 42, phase 1 (φ₁) and phase 2 (φ₂) switching circuits 14A and 14B, an output capacitor 30, and a load 16. The controller 42 coordinates control of the switching circuits 14 to provide a regulated output voltage V_OUTat the load 16. Note that the switching circuits 14A and 14B may operate from different supply voltages, V_IN2, and V_IN2, for added flexibility.

[0033] The switching controller 42 includes a control circuit 43 comprising control logic 44 and an output circuit 46. The controller 42 further comprises a blanking circuit 48, and a regulation comparator 50. The switching circuits 14A and 14B are shown configured for synchronous buck conversion, but may be configured for a variety of step-up and step-down voltage conversion functions. Each exemplary switching circuit 14A includes a high-side switch 26A, a low-side switch 26B, and an inductor 28. The switches 26A and 26B are typically field-effect transistor (FET) switches.

[0034] To switch ol high, the controller 42 turns on the high-side switch 26A in the switching circuit 14A and turns off the low-side switch 26B. To switch +l low, the controller 42 performs the converse, switching the high-side switch 26A off and the low-side switch 26B on. By alternately switching the two output switching circuits 14A and 14B high and low, the controller 42 maintains a regulated output voltage V_OUTat the load 16. The switching action of the controller 42 causes the current through the inductors 28 to ramp up and down, and these ramping currents generate a ripple voltage through the output capacitor 30, due to its equivalent series resistance (ESR). The regulation comparator 50 in the controller 42 uses this ripple component of the output voltage V_OUTto maintain steady-state regulation.

[0035] The regulation comparator 50 compares the feedback signal taken from the regulated output voltage V_OUTto a DC voltage level V_REF, that represents the desired value of the output voltage V_OUT, or some fraction or multiple thereof. As the value of V_OUTfalls, it crosses the V_REFcomparison point and the regulation comparator changes its output state, causing the control circuit 43 to switch one of the two switching circuits 14 high. This causes V_OUTto rise back above the V_REFcomparison point, which causes the regulation comparator to again change its output state. The above action causes the regulation comparator 50 to provide the switching control circuit 44 with a series of pulses during steady-state regulation of V_OUT.

[0036] In a constant on-time implementation, the output circuit generates alternating fixed-width turn-on pulses for the switching circuits 14A and 14B in response to the clock pulses from the regulation comparator. The blanking circuit 48, which is described in more detail later, provides cross-phase blanking and allows the controller 42 to maintain the desired phase relationship between switching pulses provided to the switching circuits 14A and 14B, even under high duty cycle conditions. Nominally, the regulation comparator 50 provides a clock pulse to the switching circuit 43 based on ripple in V_OUTIn turn, the switching circuit 43 causes the output circuit to provide a fixed-width switching pulse to one of the switching circuits 14A or 14B. V_OUTrises during the on-time of the switching pulse, and then begins falling again. The process repeats with the other one of the switching circuits 14 being switched on, and so on.

[0037] In some circumstances, such as a step change increase in load current into the load 16, V_OUTmay drop below the regulation comparison point for an extended period, causing the regulation comparator 50 to stop its output clocking. The blanking circuit 48 allows the controller 42 to continue switching the output switching circuits 14A and 14B with the desired phase relationship under these conditions, even at near 100% duty cycles. It accomplishes this by feeding back φ1 and φ2 switching pulses with a defined delay to continue clocking the switching controller 44. This allows the controller 42 to generate φ₁and φ₂switching pulses that overlap in time, if output loading conditions require such high duty cycles. The control logic 44 is typically configured so that it responds to feedback clocking from the blanking circuit 48, only when the output level from the regulation comparator 50 indicates that V_OUTis below the desired voltage level. The blanking circuit 48 is discussed in more detail later.

[0038] An additional advantage provided by the blanking circuit 48 is that its feedback blanking delay establishes a maximum switching frequency for the controller 42. That is, the blanking delay establishes the minimum time difference between turn-on pulse rising edges from phase-to-phase. Thus, miscellaneous supporting circuitry (not shown) within the controller 42 that require some form of clocking, may be designed with this well defined upper operating frequency in mind.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a diagram of exemplary details for the circuit 40 of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 expands on the features illustrated in FIG. 4 by adding an out-of-bounds comparator 52, a virtual ripple generator 54, and a current trim circuit 56. The out-of-bounds comparator 52 prevents the controller 42 from exacerbating over-voltage conditions on V_OUT, while the virtual ripple generator 56 provides the controller 42 with enhanced noise immunity. The current trim circuit 56 supports active current sharing, which the controller 42 may implement to ensure that no one switching circuit 14 carries an excessive share of load current. These and other features of the controller 42 are explained below.

[0040] Operation of the controller 42 described above may be better understood in this exemplary two-phase implementation of the controller 42 by beginning with the control circuit 43. The primary clock provided by the regulation comparator 50 serves as an input to the control logic 44, which comprises two AND gates 80. The AND gates each drive one of the pulse generation circuits 70A and 70B of the controller output circuit 46. A flip-flop 82 serves as a toggle circuit alternately providing a high and low signal to the two AND gates 80. By generating switching signals for the switching circuits 14 as a series of switching pulses of a determined pulse width, the switching controller 42 operates as a constant on-time controller.

[0041] At any given time, only one of the AND gates 80 receives a high signal from the flip-flop 82. Thus, at a given point in time, only one of the AND gates 80 is enabled to pass the primary clock signal from the regulation comparator 50. Assuming that the “Q” output from the flip-flop 82 is high, the AND gate corresponding to the pulse generation circuit 70A is enabled. When the primary clock from the regulation comparator 50 transitions high, this upper AND gate 80 provides a pulse initiation signal to the pulse generation circuit 70A. In turn, the pulse generation circuit 70A asserts the output switching pulse T_1ONhigh, which turns on the ol switching circuit 14A.

[0042] The T_1ONpulse is fed back through the corresponding rising edge delay circuit 72 of the blanking circuit 48. The amount of the delay imparted by the rising edge delay circuit 72 is sufficient such that the one shot 74 does not cause a clock transition in the secondary clock provided by the logic gate 76 before the regulation comparator 50 changes states in response to the switching circuit 14A being turned on. After this blanking delay, the one-shot 74 generates a clean output pulse, which the logic gate 76 provides to the flip-flop 82. The pulse causes the flip-flop 82 to change states and thereby enable the lower AND gate 80, such that the next high going pulse in the primary clock from the regulation comparator 50 will initiate an output pulse from the pulse generation circuit 70B to turn on the φ₂switching circuit 14B. Under nominal steady-state conditions this process repeats, alternately initiating the pulse generation circuits 70A and 70B.

[0043] Certain types of load transients, such as a sudden reduction in load current, cause the output voltage V_OUTto rise suddenly. Because either pulse generation circuit 70A or 70B could begin generating an output pulse of a predetermined pulse width just as the output voltage V_OUTbegins rising above the desired regulation value, the controller 42 could exacerbate the overshoot condition.

[0044] To suppress this behavior, the controller 42 can include the out-of-bounds comparator 52. A small amount of voltage, V_OFFSET, is added to the reference voltage V_REF. The resulting voltage is used as the comparison threshold for the out-of-bounds comparator 52. When V_OUTmoves above V_REF+V_OFFSET, the out-of-bounds comparator 52 asserts a disable signal. The disable signal causes the pulse generation circuits 70A and 70B to immediately cut short or suppress their output pulses. In this manner, the out-of-bounds comparator 52 prevents the controller output circuit 46 from turning on the output circuits 14 when the output voltage V_OUTis at or above the out-of-bounds threshold.

[0045] Other types of load transients, such as a step change increase in load current into the load 16, may cause V_OUTto suddenly drop below V_REF. This causes the CLK1/EN signal from the regulation comparator 50 to assume a static enable state (e.g., a logic high state). In this condition, the Q and *Q (inverse) outputs from the flip-flop 82 determine which AND gate 80 is enabled.

[0046] Assuming that the Q output was high when the CLK1/EN signal went high, the control logic 44 provides a pulse initiation signal to the pulse generation circuit 70A, causing it to output a switching pulse (T_1ON) for the φ₁output phase. The corresponding delay circuit 72 in the blanking circuit 48 delays this switching pulse before passing it to the associated one-shot 74. The one-shot 74 provides the logic gate 76 with a clean pulse, which the logic gate 76 outputs to the flip-flop 82 of the control logic 44. This causes the flip-flop 82 to transition its Q output from high to low, and its *0 output from low to high. This action causes the upper AND gate 80 to de-assert its output, and the lower AND gate 80 to assert its output, assuming the CLK1/EN signal is still high from the regulation comparator 50. Thus, the lower AND gate 80 provides the pulse generation circuit 70B with a pulse initiation signal, causing it to generate a switching pulse (T_2ON) for the φ₂output phase. The blanking circuit 48 feeds this pulse back and the process repeats alternating between φ₁, and φ₂while the CLK1/EN signal remains in its static enable condition.

[0047] Note that the cross-blanking- function of the blanking circuit 48 described above uses the switching pulse from one output phase to initiate the switching pulse for the next phase. By applying its feedback delay, the blanking circuit 48 establishes a minimum delay between respective φ₁and φ₂switching pulses, and maintains the desired phase relationship between the switching pulses provided to the output phases. Thus, in the two-phase example, the blanking circuit 48 permits the controller 42 to generate the switching pulses provided to the switching circuits 14A and 14B with the desired 180° of phase separation over the full range of pulse duty cycles.

[0048] As noted above, the virtual ripple generator 54 provides the controller 42 with increased noise immunity. It does so by adding an arbitrary magnitude ripple component to the feedback signal taken from V_OUT. The added ripple is synchronized to the actual switching pulses of the controller 42 and simply adds to whatever actual ESR-induced ripple is actually present in the regulation feedback signal. The added ripple increases the magnitude of the ripple used for regulation, thereby improving noise immunity.

[0049] Because the generated ripple component added by the virtual ripple generator does not interfere with the DC component of the V_OUTfeedback signal, the virtual ripple generator 54 does not compromise the transient response of the controller 42 with respect to step changes in the load 16. Also, because the generated ripple component does not depend on or require the presence of actual ESR-induced ripple in the output feedback signal taken from V_OUT, the controller 42 with the virtual ripple generator 54 can operate stably and reliably even when the output capacitor 30 is an ultra-low ESR type capacitor that provides little, if any, actual ripple.

[0050] In more detail, the regulation comparator 50 provides the primary clocking signal to the control logic 44. The primary clocking signal results from comparing the output voltage V_OUT, including its output ripple component, to a reference voltage V_REF, which represents the desired value for V_OUT. The ripple component of V_OUTvaries significantly with a number of parameters, including the ESR of the output capacitor 30 and the magnitude of the ripple current induced by switching the switching circuits 14 on and off to generate the voltage V_OUTThus, creating the primary clocking signal for the control logic 44 from the ripple component in the output voltage V_OUTcan be problematic. The primary clock is left vulnerable to disruptions due to load transients and spurious noise coupled onto the V_OUTvoltage feedback.

[0051] The virtual ripple generator 54 buffers V_OUTto create V′_OUT, that includes an offset portion responsive to the regulated output voltage V_OUT, and an artificially generated ripple signal with an arbitrary magnitude that is synchronized to the switching actions of the controller 42.

[0052] The arbitrary ripple signal may be maintained essentially free of noise, and is independent of the actual DC and AC components of V_OUT, thus providing a more robust ripple signal for use by the regulation comparator 50. The co-pending application, filed concurrently with the instant application, and entitled “Virtual Ripple Generation,” explains operation of the virtual ripple generator 54 and is incorporated by reference herein.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary current trim circuit 56, and provides a basis for discussing active current sharing in more detail. The current trim circuit 56 includes differential amplifiers 90, sample-and-hold circuits comprising switches 92 and capacitors 94, and a comparator 96. The current trim circuit 56 optionally includes transconductance amplifiers 97 for φ₂and φ₂to implement regulated output voltage droop.

[0054] In multi-phase applications, variations in circuit elements and layout specifics cause current sharing between output phases 14 to deviate from this ideal scenario. Certain output phases can carry significantly more or less current than the other output phases. Asymmetrical current sharing can cause inefficiency, increased noise on the load 16, and even component failures within the switching circuits 14. Pulse width trimming insures that the multiple output phases share current equally.

[0055] In its two-phase implementation, the controller 42 alternately turns the output phases 14A and 14B on and off 180° out of phase with respect to each other to generate the regulated output voltage V_OUT. To switch φ₁high (on), the controller 42 pulses the signal line T_1ONhigh, while pulsing the signal line T′_1ONlow. Switch control assures that switches 26A and 26B are not simultaneously enabled. To switch φ₁low (off), T_1ONdrops low, and T′_1ONdrives high. In a given implementation, the particular signal lines necessary to turn a given output phase 14 on and off are determined both in number and in polarity by the particular configuration of the output phases 14A and 14B and by the implementation of the controller 42.

[0056] With active current sharing, the controller 42 balances the load current between the output phases. In the two-phase example of FIG. 5, the two output phases are the two switching circuits 14A and 14B, but the concept directly extends to any number of output phases. One output phase is designated a “master” phase, with the remaining phases designated as slave phases. The controller 42 adjusts the currents in the slave output phases based on the current in the master output phase. In this two-phase example, the switching circuit 14A is the master phase, and the switching circuit 14B is the slave phase.

[0057] The controller 42 senses the currents in the switching circuits 14A and 14B via the current trim circuit 56. Based on the relative value of the phase currents, the current trim circuit 56 controls the pulse generation circuit 70B to increase or decrease the pulse width of the switching pulses provided to the switching circuit 14B so that its current matches that of the switching circuit 14A. Exemplary details for the pulse generation circuits 70A and 70B appear later.

[0058] In operation, the amplifiers 90 amplify the voltage drops across the +i and ¢2 sense resistors 60. Because the φ₁and φ₂currents are ideally 180° out of phase, the capture circuits comprising switches 92 and holding capacitors 94 are used so that the value of the currents in φ₁and φ₂may be compared using the comparator 96. The switching signals provided by the controller output circuit 46 may be used as capture control signals so that φ₁and φ₂currents are compared at the same relative phase time.

[0059] The comparator 96 generates an up/down signal based on whether the magnitude of current in φ₂is greater or less than the magnitude of the current in φ₁. The up/down signal drives the current-based pulse width trimming implemented by the pulse generation circuit 70B. Such pulse width trimming adjusts the φ₂current to make it substantially equal to the φ₁current.

[0060] The current trim circuit 56 optionally includes transconductance amplifiers 97 which produce a droop current proportional to the voltage drop across the sense resistors in φ₁and φ₂. The droop current signal is provided to the virtual ripple generator 54, which uses the droop current to offset the V′_OUTprovided to the regulation comparator 50. This allows the controller 42 to lower by a slight amount the regulated value of the output voltage V_OUTunder-heavy load current conditions, such that voltage over-shoot is minimized when current into the load 16 suddenly decreases.

[0061] FIG. 7A is a diagram of the pulse generation circuit 70A. More generally, it is a diagram of a pulse generation circuit for use with a master output phase. The pulse generation circuit 70A comprises a set-reset latch 100, an inverter 1φ2, a comparator 104, a capacitor 106, a first FET 108, a slope adjustment circuit 109, including an amplifier 110 and a second FET 112, and a resistor divider network including resistors 114 and 116.

[0062] The pulse generation circuit 70A functions as a constant on-time pulse generation circuit. It provides switching pulses to the switching circuit 14A having a fixed pulse width in response to pulse initiation signals from the control logic 44. By including provisions for compensating its switching pulse width as a function of the supply voltage V_IN1, and the desired value of V_OUT, the pulse generation circuit 70A provides an essentially constant switching frequency under steady state load conditions for a range of input and output voltages.

[0063] In operation, the pulse generation circuit 70A asserts the output from the set-reset latch 100 and begins generating a ramp signal when it receives a pulse initiation signal from the control logic 44. The slope of the ramp signal is set, in part, by the supply voltage V_IN1. The ramp signal is compared to a comparison threshold voltage, V_REFin this case, that is a function of the desired output voltage. When the ramping signal reaches the comparison threshold, the set-reset latch 100 is reset, thus de-asserting its output signal and thereby completing an output switching pulse. Thus, the switching pulse width is a function of the ramp slope and the comparison threshold.

[0064] In more detail, the control logic 44 generates an initiation pulse to set the set-reset latch 100. The set-reset latch 100 provides the output pulse T_1ONused to turn on and off the corresponding φ₁switching circuit 14. The inverter 1φ2 generates the T′_1ONas the logical opposite of T₁,ON The comparator 104 resets the set-reset latch 100 when a voltage across the capacitor 106 exceeds the reference voltage V_REF, which represents the desired output voltage. The FET 108 operates as a switch and controls whether or not the capacitor 106 charges.

[0065] When the set-reset latch 100 asserts the output pulse T_1ON, the T′_1ONsignal transitions from high to low, turning the FET 108 off, allowing the capacitor 106 to begin charging. The amplifier 108 controls the pass transistor 110 to set the charging current into the capacitor 106, based on a feedback value determined in part by the supply voltage V_IN1. A regulated voltage V_CCthat is independent of the desired output voltage level V_REFfeed through series resistor 112 into a node that forms a voltage divider with the supply voltage V_IN1through series resistor 114. The amplifier 110 compares a fraction of the regulated voltage V_CCwith the voltage at the divider node between resistors 112 and 114, and controls pass transistor 110 as a function of that voltage.

[0066] In general, the amplifier 108, pass transistor 110, and series resistor 114 cooperate to generate a charging circuit that is proportional to the input voltage V_IN1. That is, the capacitor 106 charges at a faster rate as the supply voltage V_IN1increases. This has the tendency to shorten the width of the output pulse T_1ONbecause the voltage on the capacitor 106 reaches the comparison threshold of the comparator 104 sooner. Conversely, if the reference voltage V_REFis increased, which has the effect of increasing the regulated output voltage V_OUT, the comparison threshold for the comparator 104 increases, which means that the capacitor 106 must charge for a longer period of time before the set-reset latch 100 is reset. This function has the net effect of stretching the output pulse T_1ON. Other circuit configurations may be used to create a charging current proportional to the input voltage V_IN1.

[0067] FIG. 7B illustrates the pulse generation circuit 70B that generates the output pulses T_2ON, which turns on and off the switching circuit 14B. The pulse generation circuit 70B basically functions identically to the pulse generation circuit 70A, but includes additional elements that allow pulse width trimming in support of active current sharing. That is, the pulse generation circuit 70B responds to a current trim signal from the current trim circuit 56, allowing the controller 42 to adjust the φ₂current to substantially match that of φ₁. Specifically, the pulse generation circuit 70B additionally includes a pulse adjustment circuit comprising a digital-to-analog converter 118, an up/down counter 120, a logic gate 121, a clock divider 122, and one or more window comparators 123.

[0068] The pulse generation circuit 70B nominally generates an output pulse T_2ONhaving a width determined by the value of the supply voltage V_IN2and an output voltage from a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 118 that is nominally at the reference voltage V_REF. The value of the voltage output by the DAC is determined by the digital count value provided by the counter 120. The counter 120 is driven up or down in count value as needed to adjust the DAC output voltage to a value that yields the desired load current balance between the master output phase 14A and the slave output phase 14B.

[0069] The logic gate 121 generates a counter clocking signal by applying an OR function to the T_1ONand T_2ONswitching pulses. The clock divider 122 operates as a divide-by-n divider, where the value of n is set by one or more signals provided by the window comparators 123.

[0070] The comparison reference voltage provided to the comparator 104 used to reset the set-reset latch 100 varies with the current imbalance detected by the current trim circuit 56. If the output current provided by the switching circuit 14 for φ₁exceeds that provided by the switching circuit 14 for φ₂, the current trim circuit 56 controls the up/down signal so that the counter 120 counts down, thereby decreasing the voltage provided by the DAC 118. This has the net effect of reducing the width of the output pulse T_2ON. Conversely, if the switching circuit 14 for φ2 is carrying less current than that provided by the switching circuit 14 for φ₁, the current trim circuit 56 controls the up/down signal such that the counter 120 increases its count value, thereby increasing the comparison reference voltage to the comparator 104. This has the net effect of increasing the width of the turn on pulse T_2ON. This type of trim control may be extended to multiple output phases 14.

[0071] The clock divider 122 operates with a variable divider value so that the bandwidth or responsiveness of the current trimming operation may be varied as a function of the magnitude of the difference between the associated output phase currents.

[0072] For example, the window comparators 123 can generate a first signal (b0) if the phase current difference is below a first threshold, a second signal (b1) if it is above the first threshold but below a second threshold, and a third signal (b2) if it is above the third threshold. For a binary value 000 (b2, b1, b0), the clock divider 122 might set n to a relatively high value, say 16. This reduces the bandwidth of the pulse adjustment circuit, which is appropriate for small current differences. Conversely, for a binary value of 111, the clock divider 122 might set n to a value of 1, which greatly increases the bandwidth of the pulse adjustment circuit. This action allows the counter value to change rapidly, which, in turn, causes the DAC output voltage to change rapidly. As the phase current error decreases, the clock divider 122 can select increasingly large divider values.

[0073] As earlier noted, the structure of the pulse generation circuits 70A and 70B allow different supply voltages (V_IN1and V_IN2) to power the output phases 14A and 14B. The ability to operate with different supply voltages per output phase allows the controller 42 to generate on-time pulses for output phases 14A and 14B that have different pulse widths, based on the relative values of V_IN1and V_IN2. This ability is useful in applications where a single supply voltage cannot support the required load current to load 16 under all operating conditions. Of course, V_IN1and V_IN2may be the same supply voltage if that is advantageous in a given application.

[0074] FIG. 8 illustrates generation of the φ₁and φ₂switching pulses, T_1ONand T_2ON, respectively, in first and second operating modes. In the first mode, the DC component of the regulated output voltage V_OUTis at the desired level defined by the reference voltage V_REF. Thus, the CLK1/EN signal from the regulation comparator 50 provides clocking for the controller 42, as the ripple component of V_OUTmoves above and below V_REF. In the second operating mode, the level of V_OUTis pulled below V_REF, as might occur with a step change increase in current into the load 16. In the second mode, the feedback clocking of the control logic 44 provided by the blanking circuit 48 allows the controller 42 to continue generating switching pulses. Thus, FIG. 8 depicts operational waveforms for a period of time when the output feedback signal ripples about the reference voltage used to establish the desired voltage for the regulated output signal, and for a period of time when, due to a sudden increase in load current for example, the output feedback signal drops below the reference voltage.

[0075] CLK1/EN is the primary clock signal generated by the regulation comparator 50, Q and *Q (Q-bar) are logical signals provided by flip-flop 82, E and F are the outputs from the upper and lower AND gates 80, respectively, T_1ONand T_2ONare the φ₁and φ₂switching pulses, respectively, G and H are the feedback secondary clock pulses provided by the upper and lower pulse generators 74 in the blanking circuit 48, respectively, and CLK2 is the secondary clock signal created by combining the pulses from the pulse generators 74 at the logic gate 76.

[0076] In the first operating mode, flip-flop 82 alternately enables the upper and lower AND gates 80, such that assertion of CLK1 alternately initiate pulse generators 70A and 70B. The blanking circuit 48 delays generation of CLK2 pulses such that the OR gate 76 toggles the flip-flop 82 after the regulation comparator 50 has already dropped CLK1 low. Thus, toggling the flip-flop 82 does not trigger either pulse generator 70A or 70B, but does change which AND gate 80 is enabled with respect to the next CLK1 assertion.

[0077] In the second operating mode, the regulation comparator 50 holds the CLK1 /EN signal asserted high for the duration of the negative going transient on the regulated output signal. With CLK1/EN held asserted, the output of both AND gates 80 is controlled by the Q and *Q signals from the flip-flop 82. The blanking circuit 48 responds to the rising edge of the switching pulses provided to the switching circuits 14. Thus, the blanking circuit 48 generates a delayed CLK2 pulse for every output switching pulse. The CLK2 pulses cause the control logic 44 to alternately initiate the pulse generators 70A and 70B in self-clocking fashion. The frequency of the CLK2 signal depends upon the blanking delay of the blanking circuit 48. Note that the φ₁and φ₂switching pulses maintain the desired 180° of phase separation when the switching controller is self-clocking.

[0078] As illustrated, once the voltage V_OUTof the output signal moves back up to a level nominally equal to the reference voltage V_REF, the control logic 44 again begins clocking .the controller output circuit 46 in response to the primary clock signal CLK1 provided by the regulation comparator 50. Further, note that behavior of the control logic 44 is such that its self-clocking capabilities are not exercised when the primary clock signal CLK1 becomes static low in over-voltage conditions on V_OUT. This prevents self-clocking of the switching controller 42 when the output voltage V_OUTis already above the desired voltage.

[0079] FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the control logic 44 expanded for a plurality of output phases, φ₁through φ_N, corresponding to a plurality of switching circuits 14. The controller 42 includes a counter 130 that includes control logic, and an N-1 decoder 132. The controller 42 may be adapted to support any number of output phases, while still enjoying the benefits of self-clocking with the desired phase relationships during output voltage transient conditions.

[0080] The counter/logic 130 is clocked by either the primary clock signal provided by the regulation comparator 50, or by the secondary clock signal provided by the blanking circuits 48. As with the two-phase implementation illustrated earlier, secondary clock signal allows self-clocking of the controller 42 provided the primary clock signal is in its enabling state. In operation, the counter/logic 130 provides a repeating digital sequence to the decoder 132, which provides pulse initiation signal to each one of the output phases, φ₁through φ_Nin a desired, repeating phase sequence.

[0081] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a hysteretic control implementation of the controller 42. Its operation is similar to that of the controller illustrated in FIG. 5, but ripple-mode control is based on comparing the feedback signal to upper and lower hysteretic thresholds. Unlike constant on-time control, where the controller output circuit 46 included pulse generation circuits 70A and 70B, the controller output circuit 46 includes gate drivers 71A and 71B for driving the switching circuits 14A and 14B, respectively. The control logic 44 comprises set-reset latches 45A and 45B, which operate to control the drivers 71A and 71 B, respectively.

[0082] A comparison network 53 comprises a number of comparators 55 to implement hysteretic control. The comparison network 53 clocks the control logic 44 based on the feedback signal taken from the regulated output V_OUT. Comparators 55A and 55B provide set and reset signals to the set-reset latch 45A, which, in turn, causes the driver 71A to generate switching pulses for the output switching circuit 14A. The comparators 55C and 55D perform a similar function for the set-reset latch 45B, which corresponds to the driver 71B and the switching circuit 14B.

[0083] The comparators 55A . . . 55D have upper and lower hysteretic comparison thresholds established by imparting small voltage offsets above and below the reference voltage V_REF. Note that active current sharing is provided for in this implementation by isolating the inverting input of the comparator 55C via the resistor 57. This allows the current trim circuit 56 to vary the hysteretic threshold voltage input on the inverting input of the comparator 55C as a function of the current imbalance between switching circuit 14A and switching circuit 14B. In other words, one or more hysteretic thresholds are adjusted based on output phase current imbalances. These adjustments alter the width of switching pulses provided to one or more of the switching circuits 14 to effect balanced current sharing.

[0084] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary adaptation of the current trim circuit 56 for use with the hysteretic control of FIG. 10. The circuit is the same as was illustrated in FIG. 6 but includes modifications for providing a control current to the hysteretic comparator network 53 to modulate one or more hysteretic thresholds as a function on phase current imbalance. In this implementation, the current trim circuit 56 generates a control current to generate a controllable voltage offset via the resistor 57 in the hysteretic comparator network. These modifications are reflected in the addition of a current-mode DAC 140, an up/down counter 142, a variable divider 144, a logic gate 146, and one or more window comparators 148.

[0085] The comparator 96 controls the counting direction of the counter 142. The counter is clocked by divider 144, which is in turn clocked by the phase switching signals T_1ONand T_2ONthrough the logic gate 146. The one or more window comparators 148 set the divider to one of two or more values (e.g., divide-by-1, divide-by-2, etc.) based on the degree to which the phase currents are imbalanced. Thus, the count values into the DAC 140 change faster in the presence of larger errors, and change more slowly when current imbalances are small. Thus, the current output from the DAC 140 into the resistor 57 has a variable gain determined by the degree of current imbalance. This permits fast response in the presence of large errors, and exceptional stability of control once phase current errors are minimized.

[0086] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.