Systems and methods for maximizing multi-phase voltage regulator efficiency using operational modes in which phases operate in fully-enabled mode and light-load mode
A method may include operating a power system coupled to at least one information handling resource, configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one information handling resource, and comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, in a plurality of operational modes, each mode defining a number of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operating in a fully-enabled mode and whether or not one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode, selecting a selected operational mode from the plurality of operational modes based on a load requirement of the at least one information handling resource, and controlling the plurality of voltage regulator phases to deliver an aggregate current in accordance with the load requirement and the selected operational mode.
1. An information handling system comprising:
at least one information handling resource; and
a power system coupled to the at least one information handling resource, configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one information handling resource, and comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, wherein the power system is configured to:
operate in a plurality of operational modes, each mode defining a number of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operating in a fully-enabled mode and whether or not one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of operational modes comprises a mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode and at least one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a fully-enabled mode; and
a first current delivered by the voltage regulator phases operating in the light-load mode is smaller in magnitude than a second current delivered by an individual voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode;
select a selected operational mode from the plurality of operational modes based on a load requirement of the at least one information handling resource; and
control the plurality of voltage regulator phases to deliver an aggregate current in accordance with the load requirement and the selected operational mode.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the power system is further configured to control the plurality of voltage regulator phases such that the individual currents delivered by the voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode are approximately equal in magnitude.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein each voltage regulator phase of the plurality of voltage regulator phases comprises:
a driver stage for generating a pulse-modulated waveform; and
a power stage for generating a current responsive to the pulse-modulated waveform.
4. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein:
for a voltage regulator phase operating in the light-load mode, its respective driver stage generates a pulse-frequency modulated waveform; and
for a voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode, its respective driver stage generates a pulse-width modulated waveform.
5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the power system is further configured to, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, cause the voltage regulator phase operating in the light-load mode to increase the first current in response to an increase in a current of the load requirement and decrease the first current in response to a decrease in the current of the load requirement.
6. The information handling system of claim 5 , wherein the power system is further configured to, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, cause each voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode to decrease its respective second current in response to an increase in the current of the load requirement and increase its respective second current in response to a decrease in the current of the load requirement.
7. The information handling system of claim 5 , wherein the power system is further configured to, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, cause each voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode to maintain its respective second current substantially constant responsive to any change in the current of the load requirement.
8. A method comprising:
operating a power system coupled to at least one information handling resource, configured to provide electrical energy to the at least one information handling resource, and comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, in a plurality of operational modes, each mode defining a number of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operating in a fully-enabled mode and whether or not one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of operational modes comprises a mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode and at least one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a fully-enabled mode; and
a first current delivered by the voltage regulator phases operating in the light-load mode is smaller in magnitude than a second current delivered by an individual voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode;
selecting a selected operational mode from the plurality of operational modes based on a load requirement of the at least one information handling resource; and
controlling the plurality of voltage regulator phases to deliver an aggregate current in accordance with the load requirement and the selected operational mode.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling the plurality of voltage regulator phases such that the individual currents delivered by the voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode are approximately equal in magnitude.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein each voltage regulator phase of the plurality of voltage regulator phases comprises:
a driver stage for generating a pulse-modulated waveform; and
a power stage for generating a current responsive to the pulse-modulated waveform.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
for a voltage regulator phase operating in the light-load mode, generating a pulse-frequency modulated waveform from its driver stage; and
for a voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode, generating a pulse-width modulated waveform from its driver stage.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, causing the voltage regulator phase operating in the light-load mode to increase the first current in response to an increase in a current of the load requirement and decrease the first current in response to a decrease in the current of the load requirement.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, causing each voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode to decrease its respective second current in response to an increase in the current of the load requirement and increase its respective second current in response to a decrease in the current of the load requirement.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, causing each voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode to maintain its respective second current substantially constant responsive to any change in the current of the load requirement.
15. A power system comprising:
a plurality of voltage regulator phases; and
a controller configured to:
operate the power system in a plurality of operational modes, each mode defining a number of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operating in a fully-enabled mode and whether or not one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode, wherein:
at least one of the plurality of operational modes comprises a mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a light-load mode and at least one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in a fully-enabled mode; and
a first current delivered by the voltage regulator phases operating in the light-load mode is smaller in magnitude than a second current delivered by an individual voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode;
select a selected operational mode from the plurality of operational modes based on a load requirement for the plurality of voltage regulator phases; and
control the plurality of voltage regulator phases to deliver an aggregate current in accordance with the load requirement and the selected operational mode.
16. The power system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the plurality of voltage regulator phases such that the individual currents delivered by the voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode are approximately equal in magnitude.
17. The power system of claim 15 , wherein each voltage regulator phase of the plurality of voltage regulator phases comprises:
a driver stage for generating a pulse-modulated waveform; and
a power stage for generating a current responsive to the pulse-modulated waveform.
18. The power system of claim 17 , wherein:
for a voltage regulator phase operating in the light-load mode, its respective driver stage generates a pulse-frequency modulated waveform; and
for a voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode, its respective driver stage generates a pulse-width modulated waveform.
19. The power system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, cause the voltage regulator phase operating in the light-load mode to increase the first current in response to an increase in a current of the load requirement and decrease the first current in response to a decrease in the current of the load requirement.
20. The power system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, cause each voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode to decrease its respective second current in response to an increase in the current of the load requirement and increase its respective second current in response to a decrease in the current of the load requirement.
21. The power system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to, when operating in an operational mode in which one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases operates in the light-load mode, cause each voltage regulator phase operating in the fully-enabled mode to maintain its respective second current substantially constant responsive to any change in the current of the load requirement.