Multi-phase switching converter

1. A method of operating a multi-phase switching converter comprising a plurality of phase circuits, the method comprising the steps of:

setting an adaptive voltage positioning parameter of an adaptive voltage positioning controller;

controlling an output voltage of the multi-phase switching converter using the adaptive voltage positioning controller;

generating a threshold voltage value based on the adaptive voltage positioning parameter;

comparing the output voltage of the multi-phase switching converter with the threshold voltage value; and

performing at least one of enabling and disabling a phase circuit based on the comparison.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

enabling the phase circuit when the output voltage is less than the voltage threshold and

disabling the phase circuit when the output voltage is more than the voltage threshold.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein generating a threshold voltage comprises

generating a current that is a function of the adaptive voltage positioning parameter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein generating a threshold voltage value comprises

generating a first threshold value associated with a first phase circuit and

generating a second threshold value associated with a second phase circuit, wherein the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:

enabling the first circuit when the output voltage is less than the first voltage threshold;

disabling the first circuit when the output voltage is more than the first voltage threshold;

enabling the second circuit when the output voltage is less than the second voltage threshold and

disabling the second circuit when the output voltage is more than the second voltage threshold.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

adjusting the threshold voltage value, when a phase circuit is enabled or disabled.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the threshold voltage value is adjusted momentarily for a specific time period.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the threshold voltage value is decreased when a phase circuit is disabled.

9. A multi-phase switching converter for providing an output voltage, comprising

a plurality of phase circuits;

an adaptive voltage positioning controller coupled to the plurality of phase circuits, comprising a programmable circuit for setting an adaptive voltage positioning parameter;

a voltage threshold generator coupled to the plurality of phase circuits adapted to generate a first voltage threshold value based on the adaptive voltage positioning parameter;

a first comparator coupled to the voltage threshold generator and to a first phase circuit, adapted to compare the output voltage with the first threshold value and to provide a first signal to perform at least one of enabling or disabling the first phase circuit based on the comparison.

10. The multi-phase switching converter as claimed in claim 9 ,

wherein the voltage threshold generator is adapted to generate a second voltage threshold value based on the adaptive voltage positioning parameter, wherein the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value; and

the multi-phase switching converter comprising a second comparator coupled to the voltage threshold generator and to a second phase circuit, the second comparator being adapted to compare the output voltage with the second threshold value and to provide a second signal to perform at least one of enabling or disabling the second phase circuit based on the comparison.

11. The multi-phase switching converter as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first signal is adapted to enable the first circuit when the output voltage is less than the first voltage threshold and to disable the first circuit when the output voltage is equal or greater than the first voltage threshold, and wherein the second signal is adapted to enable the second circuit when the output voltage is less than the second voltage threshold and to disable the second circuit when the output voltage is equal or greater than the second voltage threshold.

12. The multi-phase switching converter as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the adaptive voltage positioning parameter is associated with an adaptive voltage positioning resistance value.

13. The multi-phase switching converter as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a voltage threshold adjuster coupled to the voltage threshold generator, the voltage threshold adjuster being adapted to adjust the threshold voltage value when a phase circuit enabled or disabled.

14. The multi-phase switching converter as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the threshold voltage value is adjusted momentarily for a specific time period.

15. The multi-phase switching converter as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the threshold voltage value is decreased when a phase circuit is disabled.