US-20260128675-A1 - MULTI-PHASE CONTROLLER WITH ULTRA LIGHT LOAD EXIT

US20260128675A1US 20260128675 A1US20260128675 A1US 20260128675A1US-20260128675-A1

Abstract

A multi-phase controller is disclosed. The multi-phase controller includes a current-mode regulation circuit and a pulse distributor configured to distribute a first set of pulses to a first power stage and a second set of pulses to a second power stage, and to selectively enable or disable the second set of pulses to the second power stage based on the load condition. The multi-phase controller further includes a current-sense circuit coupled to receive a plurality of current-monitor signals from the plurality of power stages and configured to provide a summation signal to the current-mode regulation circuit based on the plurality of current-monitor signals, utilize a first current-monitor signal from the first power stage in place of a second current-monitor signal from the second power stage for a replacement period following a resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage.

Inventors

Liam Hanmore
Adrian WARD
David Kieran Stack

Assignees

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251010

Claims (20)

1 . A multi-phase controller for a voltage regulator module, comprising: a current-mode regulation circuit configured to generate a PWM control signal based on a load condition of the voltage regulator module; a pulse distributor coupled to receive the PWM control signal from the current-mode regulation circuit and configured to: distribute pulses to a plurality of power stages, including a first set of pulses to a first power stage and a second set of pulses to a second power stage; and selectively enable or disable the second set of pulses to the second power stage based on the load condition of the voltage regulator module; and a current-sense circuit coupled to receive a plurality of current-monitor signals from the plurality of power stages and configured to: provide a summation signal to the current-mode regulation circuit based on the plurality of current-monitor signals; and utilize a first current-monitor signal from the first power stage in place of a second current-monitor signal from the second power stage for a replacement period following a resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage after a pulse-disable period.
2 . The multi-phase controller of claim 1 , wherein the current-sense circuit is configured to resume use of the second current-monitor signal for generation of the summation signal after completion of the replacement period.
3 . The multi-phase controller of claim 1 , wherein the replacement period is in a range from 2.5 to 6.0 μs.
4 . The multi-phase controller of claim 3 , wherein the replacement period is programmable.
5 . The multi-phase controller of claim 1 , wherein the current-sense circuit is coupled to receive an N number of current-monitor signals from a corresponding N number of power stages, and wherein the N number is in a range from 2 to 48.
6 . The multi-phase controller of claim 1 , wherein the current-sense circuit includes: a summation circuit configured to generate the summation signal based on a plurality of channel signals corresponding to the plurality of current-monitor signals; a first channel configured to provide a first channel signal to the summation circuit based on the first current-monitor signal from the first power stage; a second channel configured, when enabled, to provide a second channel signal to the summation circuit based on a selected one of the first current-monitor signal from the first power stage and the second current-monitor signal from the second power stage; and a redirection controller configured to: disable the second channel in response to a halting of the second set of pulses to the second power stage; enable the second channel in response to the resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage; instruct the second channel to select the first current-monitor signal for the replacement period that occurs after the resumption of the second set of pulses; and instruct the second channel to select the second current-monitor signal after an expiration of the replacement period.
7 . The multi-phase controller of claim 6 , wherein the redirection controller is configured to instruct the second channel to select the first current-monitor signal after a wait period following the halting of the second set of pulses to the second power stage.
8 . The multi-phase controller of claim 6 , wherein: the first channel of the current-sense circuit includes: a first resistor configured to convert the first current-monitor signal into a first voltage signal; and a first transconductance amplifier configured to provide the first channel signal to the summation circuit based on the first voltage signal; and the second channel of the current-sense circuit includes: a second resistor configured to convert the second current-monitor signal into a second voltage signal; a multiplexor coupled to pass one of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal in response to the redirection controller; and a second transconductance amplifier configured to provide the second channel signal to the summation circuit based on a multiplexor output.
9 . A voltage regulator module, comprising: a plurality of power stages, each including: a high-side switching transistor; a low-side switching transistor; and a current-monitor circuit configured to provide a current-monitor signal representative of a total current through the high-side switching transistor and the low-side switching transistor; and a multi-phase controller including: a current-mode regulation circuit configured to generate a PWM control signal based on a load condition of the voltage regulator module; a pulse distributor coupled to receive the PWM control signal from the current-mode regulation circuit and configured to: distribute pulses to the plurality of power stages, including a first set of pulses to a first power stage and a second set of pulses to a second power stage; and selectively enable or disable the second set of pulses to the second power stage based on the load condition of the voltage regulator module; and a current-sense circuit coupled to receive a plurality of current-monitor signals from the plurality of power stages and configured to: provide a summation signal to the current-mode regulation circuit based on the plurality of current-monitor signals; and utilize a first current-monitor signal from the first power stage in place of a second current-monitor signal from the second power stage for a replacement period following a resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage after a pulse-disable period.
10 . The voltage regulator module of claim 9 , wherein the current-sense circuit is further configured to resume use of the second current-monitor signal for generation of the summation signal after completion of the replacement period.
11 . The voltage regulator module of claim 9 , wherein the replacement period is in a range from 2.5 to 6.0 μs.
12 . The voltage regulator module of claim 11 , wherein the replacement period is programmable.
13 . The voltage regulator module of claim 9 , wherein the current-sense circuit is coupled to receive an N number of current-monitor signals from a corresponding N number of power stages, and wherein the N number is in a range from 2 to 48.
14 . The voltage regulator module of claim 9 , wherein the current-sense circuit includes: a summation circuit configured to generate the summation signal based on a plurality of channel signals corresponding to the plurality of current-monitor signals; a first channel configured to provide a first channel signal to the summation circuit based on the first current-monitor signal from the first power stage; a second channel configured, when enabled, to provide a second channel signal to the summation circuit based on a selected one of the first current-monitor signal from the first power stage and the second current-monitor signal from the second power stage; and a redirection controller configured to: disable the second channel in response to a halting of the second set of pulses to the second power stage; enable the second channel in response to the resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage; instruct the second channel to select the first current-monitor signal for the replacement period that occurs after the resumption of the second set of pulses; and instruct the second channel to select the second current-monitor signal after an expiration of the replacement period.
15 . The voltage regulator module of claim 14 , wherein the redirection controller is configured to instruct the second channel to select the first current-monitor signal after a wait period following the halting of the second set of pulses to the second power stage.
16 . The voltage regulator module of claim 15 , wherein: the current-monitor circuit of the second power stage is configured to enter a sleep state in response to the second power stage not receiving the second set of pulses for a delay period; and the wait period for instructing the second channel to select the first current-monitor signal is less than the delay period for the current-monitor circuit to enter the sleep state.
17 . The voltage regulator module of claim 14 , wherein: the first channel of the current-sense circuit includes: a first resistor configured to convert the first current-monitor signal into a first voltage signal; and a first transconductance amplifier configured to provide the first channel signal to the summation circuit based on the first voltage signal; and the second channel of the current-sense circuit includes: a second resistor configured to convert the second current-monitor signal into a second voltage signal; a multiplexor coupled to pass one of the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal in response to the redirection controller; and a second transconductance amplifier configured to provide the second channel signal to the summation circuit based on a multiplexor output.
18 . A method of operating a multi-phase controller for a voltage regulator module, comprising: generating a PWM control signal with a current-mode regulation circuit based on a load condition of the voltage regulator module; distributing pulses, based on the PWM control signal, to a plurality of power stages, including a first set of pulses to a first power stage and a second set of pulses to a second power stage; selectively enabling and disabling the second set of pulses to the second power stage based on the load condition of the voltage regulator module; receiving a plurality of current-monitor signals from the plurality of power stages; generating a summation signal based on the plurality of current-monitor signals; utilizing a first current-monitor signal from the first power stage in place of a second current-monitor signal from the second power stage for generation of the summation signal for a replacement period in response to a resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage after a disable period for the second set of pulses; and providing the summation signal to the current-mode regulation circuit for regulation of the voltage regulator module.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising resuming use of the second current-monitor signal for generation of the summation signal after the replacement period following the resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the replacement period is in a range from 2.5 to 6.0 μs.

Description

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 63/717,600 , filed Nov. 7, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates generally to multi-phase voltage regulator modules, and specifically to a system and method to facilitate entering and exiting ultra-light load mode for a multi-phase voltage regulator module. BACKGROUND In the field of electronics, voltage regulator modules may be used to provide power to a processor included within a computing device such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet, or a smart phone. In recent years, government bodies around the world have placed, and continue to place, stringent rules and regulations regarding the power consumption of such devices. For example, according to Commission Regulation (EU) No. 617/2013, desktop and notebook computers must have a low-power state that can be activated automatically such as the Sleep State after fifteen minutes of inactivity or instantly by the end user. When connected to the mains, the power consumption in the low-power state should not exceed 0.5 W. Due to such rules and regulations regarding power consumption of computing devices, system level designers of such computing devices may require the voltage regulator modules included therein to accommodate various sleep and low-power states. Further, the voltage regulator module must themselves remain efficient and consume little power during light load conditions. The inventors of various embodiments of the present disclosure have recognized that various components within a voltage regulator module may be disabled during light load conditions to reduce the power consumption of the voltage regulator module itself during light load conditions. Inventors of various embodiments of the present disclosure have also recognized that the disabling of certain components within a voltage regulator module may cause response time and/or stability issues when exiting a light load or an ultra-light load condition. Embodiments of the present disclosure may address one or more of these challenges. SUMMARY The examples herein enable a multi-phase controller for a voltage regulator module that facilitates a fast and stable exit from light-load operation. According to one embodiment, a multi-phase controller includes a current-mode regulation circuit configured to generate a PWM control signal based on a load condition of the voltage regulator module, a pulse distributor coupled to receive the PWM control signal from the current-mode regulation circuit and configured to (i) distribute pulses to a plurality of power stages, including a first set of pulses to a first power stage and a second set of pulses to a second power stage, and (ii) selectively enable or disable the second set of pulses to the second power stage based on the load condition of the voltage regulator module, and a current-sense circuit coupled to receive a plurality of current-monitor signals from the plurality of power stages and configured to (i) provide a summation signal to the current-mode regulation circuit based on the plurality of current-monitor signals, and (ii) utilize a first current-monitor signal from the first power stage in place of a second current-monitor signal from the second power stage for a replacement period following a resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power stage after a pulse-disable period. In some embodiments, the current-sense circuit is configured to resume use of the second current-monitor signal for generation of the summation signal after completion of the replacement period. In the same or different embodiments, the replacement period is in a range from 2.5 to 6.0 μs. In the same or different embodiments, the replacement period is programmable. In the same or different embodiments, the current-sense circuit is coupled to receive an N number of current-monitor signals from a corresponding N number of power stages, and wherein the N number is in a range from 2 to 48. In the same or different embodiments, the current-sense circuit includes a summation circuit configured to generate the summation signal based on a plurality of channel signals corresponding to the plurality of current-monitor signals, a first channel configured to provide a first channel signal to the summation circuit based on the first current-monitor signal from the first power stage, a second channel configured, when enabled, to provide a second channel signal to the summation circuit based on a selected one of the first current-monitor signal from the first power stage and the second current-monitor signal from the second power stage, and a redirection controller configured to (i) disable the second channel in response to a halting of the second set of pulses to the second power stage, (ii) enable the second channel in response to the resumption of the second set of pulses to the second power s