Methods and Apparatus for Power Supply

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a power supply according various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a voltage converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage. For example, the converter may comprise an output controller configured to generate a control signal, a power mode controller, and an integrated power stage. The power stage may include a multiple switch segments coupled in parallel between the input voltage and the output, and a driver circuit responsive to the output controller and the power mode controller and connected to the switch segments. The driver circuit controls the switch segments according to the control signal to activate the switch segments in the switch circuit. The driver circuit also disables one or more of the switch segments according to the power mode signal to permit reduced power delivery and demand states.

1 . A voltage converter for converting an input voltage to an output voltage at an output, comprising:
 an output controller configured to generate a control signal;   a power mode controller configured to generate a power mode signal corresponding to a power mode;   a plurality of switches coupled in parallel between the input voltage and the output; and   a driver circuit responsive to the output controller and the power mode controller and connected to the switches, wherein the driver circuit:
 controls the switches according to the control signal; and 
 disables at least one of the switches according to the power mode signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The voltage converter of  claim 1 , wherein the switches and the driver circuit are integrated on an integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         3 . The voltage converter of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the switches and the driver circuit comprises a hot-running element that operates at a greater temperature than another component, and wherein the hot-running component is positioned near an edge of the electronic chip. 
     
     
         4 . The voltage converter of  claim 1 , further comprising a capacitor connected to the drive circuit and to a drive voltage, wherein the capacitor has a capacitance sufficient to support the provision of the first signal and the second signal sequentially, but not sufficient to support the provision of the first signal and the second signal simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The voltage converter of  claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of switches coupled in parallel between the output and ground, wherein each of the second plurality of switches has a terminal coupled to a terminal of a corresponding switch in the first plurality of switches. 
     
     
         6 . The voltage converter of  claim 4 , wherein the driver circuit is connected to the second plurality of switches, wherein:
 the driver circuit controls the second plurality switches according to the control signal; and   the driver circuit deactivates a switch in the second plurality of switches before activating the corresponding switch in the first plurality of switches.   
     
     
         7 . The voltage converter of  claim 1 , wherein the switches comprise high-power MOSFETs. 
     
     
         8 . A voltage converter for converting an input voltage from an input voltage source to an output voltage at an output, comprising:
 a pulse width modulation controller responsive to a reference voltage and the output voltage, wherein the controller generates a control signal according to a difference between the reference voltage and the output voltage;   a power mode controller configured to generate a power mode signal corresponding to a first power mode and a second power mode;   a filter connected to the output; and   an integrated power stage, comprising:
 a plurality of control MOSFETs coup led in parallel between the input voltage source and the filter, wherein the control MOSFETs connect the input voltage source to the filter when the MOSFETs are activated; 
 a plurality of synchronous MOSFETs coupled in parallel between the filter and ground, wherein the synchronous MOSFETs connect the filter to ground when the MOSFETs are activated; and 
 a driver system, comprising:
 a plurality of driver outputs, wherein a gate of each of the control MOSFETs and synchronous MOSFETs is coupled to at least one of the driver outputs; and 
 a plurality of driver circuits responsive to the control signal and coupled to the driver outputs, wherein at least one of the driver circuits:
 generates either an activation signal or a deactivation signal at a first driver output in response to the control signal when the power mode signal corresponds to the first power mode; and 
 generates the deactivation signal at the first driver output when the power mode signal corresponds to the second power mode. 
 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The voltage converter of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the MOSFETs, driver outputs, and delay circuit comprises a hot-running element that operates at a greater temperature than another component, and wherein the hot-running component is positioned near an edge of an integrated circuit chip. 
     
     
         10 . The voltage converter of  claim 8 , further comprising a capacitor connected to the driver circuit and to a drive voltage, wherein the capacitor has a capacitance sufficient to support the generation of the first signal and the second signal sequentially, but not sufficient to support the generation of the first signal and the second signal simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 . A method for converting an input voltage to an output voltage, comprising:
 generating a control signal corresponding to a difference between a reference voltage and the output voltage;   generating a power mode signal corresponding to either a first power mode or a second power mode;   connecting the input voltage to an output via a plurality of switches in response to the control signal when the power mode signal corresponds to the first power state, wherein the switches are connected in parallel between the input voltage and the output; and   disabling at least one of the switches when the power mode signal corresponds to the second power state.   
     
     
         12 . A method for converting an input voltage according to  claim 11 , further comprising connecting the output to ground via a second plurality of switches at or immediately after the first time, wherein the second switches are connected in parallel between the output and ground. 
     
     
         13 . A method for converting an input voltage according to  claim 11 , further comprising filtering the output voltage.