IP Library Granted Patent US 9,843,262
Granted Patent B2
US 9,843,262 · App. 15/182,100 · Granted Dec 12, 2017

Systems and methods for switched-inductor integrated voltage regulators

Inventors: Kenneth L. Shepard (Ossining, NY); Noah Andrew Sturcken (New York, NY)
Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
H02M3/1584G06F1/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,843,262
App. No.
15/182,100
Granted
Dec 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power controller includes an output terminal having an output voltage, at least one clock generator to generate a plurality of clock signals and a plurality of hardware phases. Each hardware phase is coupled to the at least one clock generator and the output terminal and includes a comparator. Each hardware phase is configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of clock signals and a reference voltage, combine the corresponding clock signal and the reference voltage to produce a reference input, generate a feedback voltage based on the output voltage, compare the reference input and the feedback voltage using the comparator and provide a comparator output to the output terminal, whereby the comparator output determines a duty cycle of the power controller. An integrated circuit including the power controller is also provided.

Claims (36)

1. A power controller, comprising:

an output terminal having an output voltage;

at least one clock generator to generate a plurality of clock signals;

a plurality of hardware phases, each hardware phase being coupled to the at least one clock generator and the output terminal and including a comparator, each hardware phase being configured to:

receive a corresponding one of the plurality of clock signals and a reference voltage;

combine the corresponding clock signal and the reference voltage to produce a reference input;

generate a feedback voltage based on the output voltage;

compare the reference input and the feedback voltage using the comparator; and

provide a comparator output to the output terminal, whereby the comparator output determines a duty cycle of the power controller;

wherein the comparator comprises a zero voltage switching logic (ZVS);

wherein the comparator is configured to generate non-linear feedback gain.

2. The power controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hardware phases comprise four hardware phases.

3. The power controller of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hardware phases comprise unlatched hardware phases.

4. The power controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clock signals has a different phase.

5. The power controller of claim 1 , wherein the reference input comprises a triangle wave potential.

6. The power controller of claim 5 , wherein the triangle wave potential is centered at a desired DC output voltage of the power controller.

7. The power controller of claim 1 , further comprising a bridge switching node having a bridge switching node voltage, the feedback voltage being further based on the bridge switching node voltage.

8. The power controller of claim 7 , wherein the bridge switching node voltage is determined from an inductor current of the bridge switching node.

9. The power controller of claim 1 , wherein the comparator is an unlatched continuous comparator.

10. An integrated circuit chip comprising the power controller of claim 1 .

11. The integrated circuit chip of claim 10 , further comprising one or more network-on-chip coupled to the power controller.

12. The integrated circuit chip of claim 11 , wherein the one or more network- on-chip comprises four networks-on-chip, each network-on-chip having 64 cores.

13. A method comprising:

for each one of a plurality of hardware phases, each hardware phase being coupled to at least one clock generator and an output terminal and including a comparator:

receiving a corresponding one of a plurality of clock signals from the at least one clock generator and a reference voltage;

combining the corresponding clock signal and the reference voltage to produce a reference input;

generating a feedback voltage based on an output voltage from an output terminal;

comparing the reference input and the feedback voltage using the comparator;

providing a comparator output to the output terminal, whereby the comparator output determines a duty cycle of a power controller;

wherein the comparator comprises a zero voltage switching logic (ZVS);

wherein the comparator is configured to generate a non-linear feedback gain.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the plurality of clock signals, each of the plurality of clock signals having a different phase.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the reference input, wherein the reference input comprises a triangle wave potential.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein providing the reference input comprises centering the triangle wave potential at a desired DC output voltage of the power controller.

17. The method of claim 13 , generating the feedback voltage further comprises generating the feedback voltage based on a bridge switching node voltage from a bridge switching node.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining the bridge switching node voltage from an inductor current of the bridge switching node.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 25, 2019
From: COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 049642/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2017
From: SHEPARD, KENNETH L.
To: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Reel/Frame 041766/0208 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14172210
Continuation PCTUS2012051532 · Aug 20, 2012
Provisional Application 61527668 · Aug 26, 2011
Related Publication 20170110968A1 · Apr 20, 2017