Multiphase regulator with phase current testing using ramp current patterns

1. A multiphase regulator, comprising:

a plurality of output phases, each output phase being operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor coupled to that output phase to a load connected to the output phases via the separate inductors and an output capacitor; and

a controller operable to perform self-testing of the multiphase regulator based on information available within the controller, the self-testing including ramping up a voltage delivered to the load to charge the output capacitor, the voltage ramp up causing active ones of the output phases to source current to the load, and detecting if any phase currents sourced by the active ones of the output phases fail to have a ramp current pattern that matches an expected ramp current pattern,

wherein as part of the self-testing performed by the controller, the controller is operable to determine if the detected phase currents indicate any of the output phases, any of the separate inductors or the output capacitor are faulty even if a total current delivered to the load is within specified limits.

2. The multiphase regulator of claim 1 , wherein as part of the self-testing performed by the controller, the controller is operable to ramp up the voltage delivered to the load in a startup mode of the multiphase regulator.

3. The multiphase regulator of claim 1 , wherein the expected ramp current pattern is based on an output voltage ramp and a capacitance of the output capacitor.

4. The multiphase regulator of claim 1 , wherein as part of the self-testing performed by the controller, the controller is operable to ramp down the voltage delivered to the load to discharge the output capacitor, the voltage ramping down causing the output phases to sink current from the load, and detect if any of the currents sunk by the output phases fail to have a ramp down current pattern that matches an expected ramp down current pattern.

5. The multiphase regulator of claim 1 , wherein as part of the self-testing performed by the controller, the controller is operable to force a first one of the output phases to sink current, force a second one of the output phases to source current, and determine if a detected ramp current pattern for the first output phase matches an expected ramp current pattern for the first output phase and if a detected ramp current pattern for the second output phase matches an expected ramp current pattern for the second phase.

6. The multiphase regulator of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to disable each output phase whose detected current has the ramp current pattern that does not match the expected ramp current pattern.

7. A method of operating a multiphase regulator having a plurality of output phases, each output phase for delivering a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the plurality of output phases via the separate inductors and an output capacitor, the method comprising:

performing self-testing of the multiphase regulator by a controller of the multiphase regulator, based on information available within the controller,

wherein the self-testing performed by the controller comprises:

ramping up a voltage delivered to the load to charge the output capacitor, the voltage ramp up causing active ones of the output phases to source current to the load;

detecting if any phase currents sourced by the active ones of the output phases fail to have a ramp current pattern that matches an expected ramp current pattern; and

determining if the detected phase currents indicate any of the output phases, any of the separate inductors or the output capacitor are faulty even if a total current delivered to the load is within specified limits.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the voltage is ramped up during a startup mode of the multiphase regulator.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the expected ramp current pattern is based on an output voltage ramp and a capacitance of the output capacitor.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the self-testing performed by the controller further comprises:

ramping down the voltage delivered to the load to discharge the output capacitor, the voltage ramping down causing the output phases to sink current from the load; and

detect if any of the currents sunk by the output phases fail to have a ramp down current pattern that matches an expected ramp down current pattern.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the self-testing performed by the controller further comprises:

forcing a first one of the output phases to sink current;

forcing a second one of the output phases to source current; and

determining if a detected ramp current pattern for the first output phase matches an expected ramp current pattern for the first output phase, and if a detected ramp current pattern for the second output phase matches an expected ramp current pattern for the second phase.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

disabling each output phase whose detected current has the ramp current pattern that does not match the expected ramp current pattern.

13. A multiphase regulator, comprising:

a plurality of output phases, each output phase being operable to deliver a phase current through a separate inductor coupled to that output phase to a load connected to the output phases via the separate inductors and an output capacitor; and

a controller operable to perform self-testing of the multiphase regulator based on information available within the controller, the self-testing including ramping up a voltage delivered to the load to charge the output capacitor, the voltage ramp up causing active ones of the output phases to source current to the load, and detecting if any phase currents sourced by the active ones of the output phases fail to have a ramp current pattern that matches an expected ramp current pattern,

wherein the controller is further operable to regulate the voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, monitor the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases, and determine if the monitored phase currents indicate any of the output phases, any of the separate inductors or the output capacitor are faulty even if a total current delivered by the multiphase regulator to the load is within specified limits.

14. A method of operating a multiphase regulator having a plurality of output phases, each output phase for delivering a phase current through a separate inductor to a load connected to the plurality of output phases via the separate inductors and an output capacitor, the method comprising:

performing self-testing of the multiphase regulator by a controller of the multiphase regulator, based on information available within the controller, wherein the self-testing performed by the controller comprises:

ramping up a voltage delivered to the load to charge the output capacitor, the voltage ramp up causing active ones of the output phases to source current to the load; and

detecting if any phase currents sourced by the active ones of the output phases fail to have a ramp current pattern that matches an expected ramp current pattern;

regulating the voltage delivered to the load by adjusting the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases,

wherein the self-testing performed by the controller further comprises:

monitoring the phase currents delivered to the load by the output phases; and

determining if the monitored phase currents indicate any of the output phases, any of the separate inductors or the output capacitor are faulty even if a total current delivered by the multiphase regulator to the load is within specified limits.