Voltage regulator module and method of operating the same
A voltage regulator module may comprise a control signal generation module, a power stage, and a routing network. The control signal generation module may be configured to, in a first mode of operation, generate an internal control signal for controlling the power stage. The routing network may be configured to, in the first mode of operation, apply the internal control signal to a control node of the power stage. The routing network may be configured to, in a second mode of operation, electrically connect said control node to an input pin of the voltage regulator module such that the power stage is controllable by an external control signal applied to said input pin. Thus, in the second mode of operation, it becomes possible to control the power stage directly via the external control signal and use this power stage e.g. as a single phase of a multi-phase power converter.
1 . A voltage regulator module comprising a control signal generation module, a power stage, and signal routing circuitry,
wherein the signal routing circuitry is operative to route data signals between pins and nodes of the voltage regulator module,
wherein the control signal generation module is configured to, in a first mode of operation, generate an internal control signal for controlling the power stage,
wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the first mode of operation, apply the internal control signal to a control node of the power stage, and
wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in a second mode of operation, couple the control node to an input pin of the voltage regulator module such that the power stage is controllable by an external control signal applied to the input pin, and
wherein the control signal generation module is configured to, in the first mode of operation, generate the internal control signal based on an external feedback signal applied to the input pin.
2 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the second mode of operation, prevent application of the internal control signal to the control node of the power stage.
3 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage regulator module is configured to, in the second mode of operation, disable the control signal generation module.
4 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the first mode of operation, electrically connect the input pin to an input node of the control signal generation module.
5 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 4 , wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the second mode of operation, isolate the input pin from the input node of the control signal generation module.
6 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 further comprising a current pin and a current sensing circuit configured to sense a current value within the power stage, wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the second mode of operation, electrically connect the current sensing circuit to the current pin such that the sensed current value is externally readable via the current pin.
7 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 6 , further comprising an overcurrent protection circuit configured to compare a current within the power stage with an overcurrent threshold value, wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the first mode of operation, electrically connect the current pin with the overcurrent protection circuit such that the overcurrent threshold value can be communicated to the overcurrent protection circuit.
8 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 6 , wherein the sensed current value is an output current at an output pin of the voltage regulator module; and
wherein the current sensing circuit is configured to sense the output current at the output pin of the voltage regulator module.
9 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 further comprising a temperature pin and a temperature sensing circuit configured to sense a temperature value within the power stage, wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the second mode of operation, electrically connect the temperature sensing circuit with the temperature pin such that the sensed temperature value is externally readable via the temperature pin.
10 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 further comprising an enable pin electrically coupled to the signal routing circuitry, wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to receive an enable signal from the enable pin and switch between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation based on a state of the enable signal.
11 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal generation module comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller with a comparator configured to, in the first mode of operation, compare a voltage at the input pin of the voltage regulator module with a reference voltage.
12 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the power stage comprises a driver circuit configured to generate drive signals based on a control signal at the control node of the power stage, and a half-bridge configured to couple, based on the drive signals, an output pin of the voltage regulator module alternately to an input voltage or to a reference potential.
13 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 12 , wherein the half-bridge comprises a high-side switching element coupled between the input voltage and the output pin of the voltage regulator module and the low-side switching element coupled between the output pin and a reference potential.
14 . A power converter module comprising a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller and the voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein a PWM control output of the PWM controller is connected to the input pin of the voltage regulator module.
15 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the first mode of operation, convey the external feedback signal received at the input pin to an input node of the control signal generation module, the external feedback signal controlling the power stage in the first mode.
16 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the second mode of operation, disconnect the input pin of the voltage regulator module from the control signal generation module.
17 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the internal control signal is a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal generated by the control signal generation module.
18 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the external feedback signal is generated based on a voltage at an output node of the voltage regulator module.
19 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the power stage is configured to, in the second mode of operation, produce an output voltage based in part on a sensed current value at a current pin of the voltage regulator module.
20 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the external control signal, in the second mode of operation, is applied to the input pin independent of an output voltage generated by the power stage.
21 . The voltage regulator module according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal generation module is configured to, in the first mode of operation, receive an output voltage of the power stage at the input node, and compare the output voltage to a reference voltage.
22 . A method of operating a voltage regulator module comprising a control signal generation module, a power stage, and signal routing circuitry, the signal routing circuitry operative to route data signals between pins and nodes of the voltage regulator module, the method comprising:
generating, by the control signal generation module, in a first mode of operation, an internal control signal for controlling the power stage,
applying, by the signal routing circuitry, in the first mode of operation, the internal control signal to a control node of the power stage, and
electrically coupling, by the signal routing circuitry, in a second mode of operation, the control node to an input pin of the voltage regulator module such that the power stage is controllable by an external control signal applied to the input pin, and
wherein the signal routing circuitry is configured to, in the first mode of operation, electrically connect the input pin of the voltage regulator module to an input node of the control signal generation module,
wherein the control signal generation module is configured to, in the first mode of operation, generate the internal control signal based on an external feedback signal applied to the input pin.
23 . The method of operating the voltage regulator module according to claim 22 , the method comprising:
connecting a PWM control output of a PWM controller to the input pin of the voltage regulator module.