Voltage Regulator Interleaving Circuit for Arbitrary Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voltage regulators with multi-phase interleaving control require a large number of devices, leading to high circuit costs and limited applicability to applications with arbitrary phase numbers.
Innovation Solution
Connect N multi-phase power converters in parallel and control M-phase power stage circuits within each converter in an interleaving manner, using a control circuit with a pulse distributor, on-time generators, and phase locked loops to achieve arbitrary phase interleaving control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-phase interleaving control is implemented using conventional voltage regulator architecture, then load transient response speed and current capability are improved, but circuit cost and device quantity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voltage regulator into N independent multi-phase power converters, each with M-phase power stage circuits. This modular segmentation allows each unit to operate independently with interleaved switching, achieving high transient response while reducing the complexity of any single control unit compared to a fully integrated conventional architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed with universal functionality to support arbitrary phase numbers through configurable parameters (N and M). The same control architecture can be adapted to different phase configurations without requiring complete redesign, reducing development costs and improving versatility across applications.
2Power
If conventional voltage regulator architecture is used for multi-phase interleaving control, then high current capability is achieved, but adaptability to arbitrary phase numbers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic configurability where the voltage regulator can be configured with arbitrary N (number of multi-phase power converters) and M (number of phases per converter) parameters. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize for different current requirements and phase numbers without hardware changes, maintaining high current capability while expanding versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves adaptability to arbitrary phase numbers by changing the parameters N and M, which define the configuration of multi-phase power converters and their internal phases. This parameter-based configuration allows the same hardware architecture to support different phase numbers (e.g., 3-phase, 4-phase, 6-phase) while maintaining high current capability through parallel operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If N multi-phase power converters are connected in parallel with M-phase power stage circuits, then arbitrary phase interleaving control is achieved, but control circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is segmented into N independent control units, each managing M-phase power stage circuits. This segmentation distributes the control complexity across multiple independent units rather than requiring a single complex controller, making the system more manageable and easier to implement while achieving arbitrary phase interleaving control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of the N and M parameters during system design or initialization, which establishes the interleaving control scheme before operation. This preliminary action simplifies real-time control by pre-defining the phase relationships and switching sequences, reducing the computational burden during actual operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a control circuit, a control method and a voltage regulator. The technical solution provided by embodiments of the present disclosure can be extended to N*M phase applications by connecting N multi-phase power converters in a voltage regulator in parallel in an interleaving manner and controlling M-phase power stage circuits in each multi-phase power converter to be connected in parallel in an interleaving manner, thereby effectively achieving multi-phase interleaving control and reducing output voltage ripples.