US6281666B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Efficiency of a multiphase switching power supply during low power mode
Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc
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Filing: 2000-03-14
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Granted: 2001-08-28
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Expires: 2020-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A multiphase power supply that minimizes losses during a low power mode+. In a particular embodiment, a multiphase power supply may include a plurality of switching regulators coupled in parallel with respect to one another. The multiphase power supply further comprises a phase control circuit coupled to each of the switching regulators. The phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of control signals for controlling the switching of the switching regulators so that they are out of phase with respect to one another. During the low power mode of operation of the microprocessor, the phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of a subset of switching regulators by removing or disabling at least one of the plurality of control signals to each of the subset of switching regulators.
Inventors
- 👤 Chris Tressler
- 👤 Carl Hernandez
- 👤 Mary Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:43
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/156; H02M3/158; H02M3/1584; H02M3/1588; H02M1/00; H02M1/0003; H02M1/0032; H02M3/1586; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A power supply comprising: a first switching regulator circuit; a second switching regulator circuit; a phase control circuit coupled to said first switching regulator circuit and to said second switching regulator circuit, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of switching control signals for controlling switching of said first and second switching regulator circuits, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of said second switching regulator in response to receiving a signal indicative of a low power mode of operation while said first switching regulator circuit continues to operate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A power supply comprising: a first switching regulator circuit; a second switching regulator circuit; a phase control circuit coupled to said first switching regulator circuit and to said second switching regulator circuit, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of switching control signals for controlling switching of said first and second switching regulator circuits, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of said second switching regulator in response to receiving a signal indicative of a low power mode of operation while said first switching regulator circuit continues to operate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The power supply as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first switching regulator circuit and said second switching regulator circuit are configured to provide power to an output node, and said first switching regulator circuit continues to provide power to said output node when operation of said second switching regulator circuit is suspended by said phase control circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The power supply as recited in claim 2 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively suspends operation of said second switching regulator circuit during said low power mode of operation by disabling at least one of said plurality of control signals to said second switching regulator circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The power supply as recited in claim 3 , wherein each of said first and second switching regulator circuits comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second transistor with said control signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The power supply as recited in claim 4 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second switching regulator circuits so that said first and second switching regulator circuits are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The power supply as recited in claim 5 , wherein each of said first and second switching regulator circuits further comprises: a capacitor coupled to receive charge from said first transistor in response to said first transistor being activated; and an inductor coupled to said capacitor to provide current to said capacitor in response to said first transistor being deactivated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The power supply as recited in claim 3 , wherein each of said first and second switching regulator circuits comprises a first transistor, wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The power supply as recited in claim 7 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second switching regulator circuits so that said first and second switching regulator circuits are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The power supply as recited in claim 8 , wherein each of said first and said second switching regulator circuits further comprises: a capacitor coupled to receive charge from said first transistor in response to said first transistor being activated; and an inductor coupled to said capacitor to provide current to said capacitor in response to said first transistor being deactivated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
A power supply comprising: a first switching regulator circuit; a second switching regulator circuit; a third switching regulator circuit; a fourth switching regulator circuit; a phase control circuit coupled to said first switching regulator circuit, said second switching regulator circuit, said third switching regulator circuit and said fourth switching regulator circuit, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of switching control signals for controlling switching of said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of said second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits in response to receiving a signal indicative of a low power mode of operation while said first switching regulator circuit continues to operate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A power supply comprising: a first switching regulator circuit; a second switching regulator circuit; a third switching regulator circuit; a fourth switching regulator circuit; a phase control circuit coupled to said first switching regulator circuit, said second switching regulator circuit, said third switching regulator circuit and said fourth switching regulator circuit, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of switching control signals for controlling switching of said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of said second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits in response to receiving a signal indicative of a low power mode of operation while said first switching regulator circuit continues to operate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
The power supply as recited in claim 10 , wherein said first switching regulator circuit, said second switching regulator circuit, said third switching regulator circuit and said fourth switching regulator circuit, are configured to provide power to an output node, and said first switching regulator circuit continues to provide power to said output node when operation of said second switching regulator circuit, said third switching regulator circuit and said fourth switching regulator circuit is suspended by said phase control circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
The power supply as recited in claim 11 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively suspends operation of said second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits during said low power mode of operation by disabling at least one of said plurality of control signals to each of said second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The power supply as recited in claim 12 , wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second transistor with said control signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The power supply as recited in claim 13 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits so that said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The power supply as recited in claim 14 , wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits further comprises: a capacitor coupled to receive charge from said first transistor in response to said first transistor being activated; and an inductor coupled to said capacitor to provide current to said capacitor in response to said first transistor being deactivated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The power supply as recited in claim 12 , wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits comprises a first transistor, wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first transistor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The power supply as recited in claim 16 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits so that said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
The power supply as recited in claim 17 , wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth switching regulator circuits further comprises: a capacitor coupled to receive charge from said first transistor in response to said first transistor being activated; and an inductor coupled to said capacitor to provide current to said capacitor in response to said first transistor being deactivated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system comprising: a microprocessor; a power supply coupled to said microprocessor, wherein said power supply comprises: a first switching regulator circuit; a second switching regulator circuit; a phase control circuit coupled to said first switching regulator circuit and to said second switching regulator circuit, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of switching control signals for controlling switching of said first and second switching regulator circuits, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of said second switching regulator in response to receiving a signal indicative of a low power mode of operation while said first switching regulator circuit continues to operate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
111 words
A computer system comprising: a microprocessor; a power supply coupled to said microprocessor, wherein said power supply comprises: a first switching regulator circuit; a second switching regulator circuit; a phase control circuit coupled to said first switching regulator circuit and to said second switching regulator circuit, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to generate a plurality of switching control signals for controlling switching of said first and second switching regulator circuits, wherein said phase control circuit is configured to selectively suspend operation of said second switching regulator in response to receiving a signal indicative of a low power mode of operation while said first switching regulator circuit continues to operate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer system as recited in claim 19 , wherein said first switching regulator circuit and said second switching regulator circuit are configured to provide power to said microprocessor, and said first switching regulator circuit continues to provide power to said microprocessor when operation of said second switching regulator circuit is suspended by said phase control circuit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer system as recited in claim 20 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively suspends operation of said second switching regulator circuit during said low power mode of operation by disabling at least one of said plurality of control signals to said second switching regulator circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system as recited in claim 21 , wherein each of said first and second switching regulator circuits comprises a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second transistor with said control signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as recited in claim 22 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second switching regulator circuits so that said first and second switching regulator circuits are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
The computer system as recited in claim 23 , wherein each of said first and second switching regulator circuits further comprises: a capacitor coupled to receive charge from said first transistor in response to said first transistor being activated; and an inductor coupled to said capacitor to provide current to said capacitor in response to said first transistor being deactivated.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system as recited in claim 21 , wherein each of said first and second switching regulator circuits comprises a first transistor, wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first transistor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as recited in claim 25 , wherein said phase control circuit selectively activates and deactivates said first and second switching regulator circuits so that said first and second switching regulator circuits are out of phase with respect to one another.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer system as recited in claim 26 , wherein each of said first and said second switching regulator circuits further comprises: a capacitor coupled to receive charge from said first transistor in response to said first transistor being activated; and an inductor coupled to said capacitor to provide current to said capacitor in response to said first transistor being deactivated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |