SIMO DC to DC converter for dynamically providing a regulated output voltage within a pre-defined range
Disclosed herein is a single inductor multiple output (SIMO) DC-to-DC converter for dynamically providing a regulated output voltage within a pre-defined range. The converter may be configured as a buck-boost converter that includes an inductor, switches coupled to the inductor to control energizing and deenergizing phases of the inductor, and output rails. Each of the output rails may include an output switch that selectively connects the output rail to the inductor. Depending on the energizing and deenergizing patterns of the inductor; and the selection state of the switches, the output rails may be supplied with different output voltages and/or output currents. Any number of regulating strategies may be utilized to control the output voltages and/or the output currents.
1 . A single inductor multiple output circuitry comprising:
an inductor;
a plurality of converter output lines coupled to an output terminal of the inductor;
a plurality of switches, each coupled to the output terminal of the inductor and configured to provide a switching output voltage on a corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines in response to an input voltage applied to an input terminal of the inductor;
a switch controller configured to control each corresponding one of the plurality of switches based on a respective duty cycle voltage received at the corresponding switch to control the switching output voltage of its corresponding converter output line; and
a plurality of regulators, each configured to:
dynamically set a respectively associated regulator-specific predefined target output voltage for its corresponding converter output line; and
regulate the switching output voltage to output, for its corresponding converter output line, a regulated target output voltage that stays within a predefined range from the respectively associated regulator-specific predefined target output voltage based on selectively coupling the input voltage to its corresponding converter output line and/or selectively coupling a reference potential to its corresponding converter output line,
wherein the switch controller comprises, for each of the plurality of switches:
an adder configured to output an added voltage based on the regulated target output voltage for its corresponding converter output line combined with:
a first voltage indicative of a current sourced from the input voltage being selectively coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines; and/or
a second voltage indicative of a current sunk to the reference potential being selectively coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines; and
a comparator circuit configured to output the respective duty cycle voltage based on the added voltage compared to a voltage indicative of a current at the input terminal of the inductor.
2 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch coupled between the input terminal of the inductor and the input voltage and a second switch coupled between the input terminal of the inductor and the reference potential.
3 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of switches comprises a third switch coupled between the output terminal of the inductor and the reference potential.
4 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the plurality of regulators comprises a first comparator circuit configured to compare the switching output voltage with a predefined first threshold voltage of the predefined range and to selectively couple the input voltage to its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage higher than the predefined first threshold voltage and to selectively decouple the input voltage from its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage lower than the predefined first threshold voltage.
5 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 4 ,
wherein each of the plurality of regulators comprises a second comparator circuit configured to compare the switching output voltage with a predefined second threshold voltage of the predefined range and to selectively couple the reference potential to its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage higher than the predefined second threshold voltage and to selectively decouple the reference potential from its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage lower than the predefined second threshold voltage.
6 . A system comprising:
the single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 1 ; and
an electronic component coupled to an associated converter output line of the plurality of converter output lines and configured to operate at the regulated target output voltage of the associated converter output line of the plurality of converter output lines.
7 . The system of claim 6 , the system further comprising:
a further electronic component coupled to another converter output line of the plurality of converter output lines and configured to operate at the regulated target output voltage of the another converter output line of the plurality of converter output lines.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the electronic component is selected from a group consisting of:
a transmitter;
a receiver;
a transceiver;
a processor; and
a memory component.
9 . A single inductor multiple output circuitry comprising:
a switching stage comprising an inductor and a plurality of switches to provide a switching output voltage at a corresponding converter output line of a plurality of converter output lines in response to an input voltage applied to an input terminal of the inductor, wherein the switching output voltage is dependent on respective switching states of the plurality of switches;
at least one regulator configured to receive the switching output voltage and to dynamically set the switching output voltage at the corresponding converter output line of the plurality of converter output lines, wherein the at least one regulator comprises a circuit configured to, based on whether the switching output voltage is within a predefined range of a target regulator output voltage, switch in a current sourced from the input voltage or a current sunk to a reference potential to regulate the switching output voltage; and
a switch controller configured to control respective switching states of the plurality of switches based on a respective duty cycle voltage at a corresponding switch, wherein the switch controller is configured to provide the switching output voltage at its corresponding converter output line, the switch controller comprising, for each of the plurality of switches:
an adder configured to output an added voltage based on the target regulator output voltage for its corresponding converter output line combined with a first voltage indicative of the current sourced from the input voltage and/or a second voltage indicative of the current sunk to the reference potential; and
a comparator circuit configured to output the respective duty cycle voltage based on the added voltage compared to a voltage indicative of a current at the input terminal of the inductor.
10 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 9 ,
wherein the plurality of switches comprises a first switch coupled between the input terminal of the inductor and the input voltage and a second switch coupled between the input terminal of the inductor and the reference potential.
11 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 10 ,
wherein the plurality of switches comprises a third switch coupled between an output terminal of the inductor and the reference potential.
12 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 9 ,
wherein the at least one regulator comprises a first comparator circuit configured to compare the switching output voltage with a predefined lower threshold voltage of the predefined range and to selectively couple the input voltage to its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage higher than the predefined lower threshold voltage and to selectively decouple the input voltage from its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage lower than the predefined lower threshold voltage.
13 . The single inductor multiple output circuitry of claim 12 ,
wherein the at least one regulator comprises a second comparator circuit configured to compare the switching output voltage with a predefined upper threshold voltage of the predefined range and to selectively couple the reference potential to its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage higher than the predefined upper threshold voltage and to selectively decouple the reference potential from its corresponding converter output line based on the switching output voltage lower than the predefined upper threshold voltage.
14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, implement a method of operating a single inductor multiple output circuitry, the method comprising:
providing by a plurality of switches a switching output voltage at a corresponding converter output line of a plurality of converter output lines in response to an input voltage applied to an input terminal of an inductor;
controlling each of the plurality of switches based on a respective duty cycle voltage to control the switching output voltage at its corresponding converter output line; and
operating at least one regulator for regulating the switching output voltage at its corresponding converter output line by:
dynamically setting a respectively associated regulator-specific predefined target output voltage for its corresponding first converter output line; and
regulating the switching output voltage to output, for its corresponding converter output line, a regulated target output voltage that stays within a predefined range from the respectively associated regulator-specific predefined target output voltage based on selectively coupling the input voltage to its corresponding converter output line and/or selectively coupling a reference potential to its corresponding converter output line,
wherein the controlling each of the plurality of switches further comprises:
outputting an added voltage based on the regulated target output voltage for its corresponding converter output line combined with:
a first voltage indicative of a current sourced from the input voltage being selectively coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines; and/or
a second voltage indicative of a current sunk to the reference potential being selectively coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines; and
outputting the respective duty cycle voltage based on the added voltage compared to a voltage indicative of a current at the input terminal of the inductor.
15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, implement a method of operating a single inductor multiple output circuitry, the method comprising:
controlling a switching stage comprising an inductor and a plurality of switches to provide a switching output voltage at a corresponding converter output line of a plurality of converter output lines in response to an input voltage applied to an input terminal of the inductor, wherein the switching output voltage is dependent on respective switching states of the plurality of switches, wherein the controlling the switching stage further comprises controlling the respective switching states based on a respective duty cycle voltage at a corresponding switch of the plurality of switches;
operating at least one regulator that:
receives the switching output voltage;
dynamically set a target regulator output voltage for its corresponding output line of the plurality of converter output lines;
switches in, based on whether the switching output voltage is above a predefined upper threshold voltage which is greater than the target regulator output voltage or whether the switching output voltage is below a predefined lower threshold voltage which is smaller than the target regulator output voltage; and
regulates the switching output voltage to output, for its corresponding output line, a regulated target output voltage by selectively coupling the input voltage to its corresponding output line and/or selectively coupling a reference potential to its corresponding output line based on whether the switching output voltage is above the predefined upper threshold voltage that is greater than the target regulator output voltage or whether the switching output voltage is below the predefined lower threshold voltage that is smaller than the target regulator output voltage;
providing the respective duty cycle voltage to the corresponding switch by outputting an added voltage based on the regulated target output voltage for its corresponding output line combined with:
a first voltage indicative of a current sourced from the input voltage being selectively coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines; and/or
a second voltage indicative of a current sunk to the reference potential being selectively coupled to the corresponding one of the plurality of converter output lines; and
outputting the respective duty cycle voltage based on the added voltage compared to a voltage indicative of a current at the input terminal of the inductor.