Configurable power supply integrated circuit
View Patent ↗A power integrated circuit includes, in part, a multitude of controllers, a multitude of pulse-width generators, a multitude of output stages and a configuration matrix. Each controller is adapted to be responsive to a feedback signal and a reference signal to generate a control signal carrying pulse width information. Each control signal causes a difference between an associated output voltage feedback signal and the reference signal to be less than a predefined value. Each pulse-width generator is associated with and responsive to a different one of the controllers to generate a pulse-width modulated signal in response. The configuration matrix selectively couples the plurality of pulse-width generators to the output stages.
1. A voltage regulator circuit comprising:
at least first and second controllers
at least first and second output stages; and
a configuration matrix including a plurality of switches operable to selectively couple the first and second controllers to the first and second output stages or to selectively uncouple the first and second controllers from the first and second output stages;
wherein said first controller is operable to receive a reference signal and a first feedback signal and to generate a first internal signal operative to cause a difference between the first feedback signal and the reference signal to be less than a first predefined value, said first feedback signal being representative of a first regulated output voltage,
said second controller is operable to receive the reference signal and a second feedback signal and to generate a second internal signal operative to cause a difference between the second feedback signal and the reference signal to be less than a second predefined value, said second feedback signal being representative of a second regulated output voltage,
wherein in response to a configuration data received by the configuration matrix the plurality of switches cause the first controller to be coupled to the first output stage and the second controller to be coupled to the second output stage, thereby causing:
said first internal signal to be applied to the first output stage thus causing the first regulated output voltage to be supplied at an output of the first output stage; and
said second internal signal to be applied to the second output stage thus causing the second regulated output voltage to be supplied at an output of the second output stage.
2. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 wherein the first and second output stages each comprise a MOS transistor pass element.
3. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 wherein the first and second output stages each comprise a bipolar transistor pass element.
4. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 further comprising:
a first buffer disposed between the configuration matrix and the first output stage.
5. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 wherein the first predefined value is not equal to the second predefined value.
6. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 wherein the first predefined value is equal the second predefined value.
7. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 wherein the first regulated output voltage is not equal to the second regulated output voltage.
8. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 1 wherein the first regulated output voltage is equal to the second regulated output voltage.
9. A voltage regulator circuit comprising:
a digital control block;
at least first and second output stages;
at least first and second drivers; and
a configuration matrix including a plurality of switches operable to selectively couple the first and second drivers to the first and second output stages or to selectively uncouple the first and second drivers from the first and second output stages;
wherein said digital control block is operable to receive a reference signal and a first feedback signal and to generate a first internal signal operative to cause a difference between the first feedback signal and the reference signal to be less than a first predefined value, said first feedback signal being representative of a first regulated output voltage,
said digital control block is further operable to receive the reference signal and a second feedback signal and to generate a second internal signal operative to cause a difference between the second feedback signal and the reference signal to be less than a second predefined value, said second feedback signal being representative of a second regulated output voltage
said at least first driver is operable to generate at least a first drive signal having a level defined in part by a level of the first internal signal,
said at least second driver is operable to generate at least a second drive signal having a level defined in part by a level of the second internal signal,
wherein in response to a configuration data received by the configuration matrix the plurality of switches cause the first driver to be coupled to the first output stage and the second driver to be coupled to the second output stage, thereby causing:
said first drive signal to be applied to the first output stage thus causing the first regulated output voltage to be supplied at an output of the first output stage; and
said second drive signal to be applied to the second output stage thus causing the second regulated output voltage to be supplied at an output of the second output stage.
10. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 wherein the first and second output stages each comprise a MOS transistor pass element.
11. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 wherein the first and second output stages each comprise a bipolar transistor pass element.
12. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9
wherein the first and second drivers are disposed between the digital control block and the configuration matrix.
13. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9
wherein the first and second drivers are disposed between the configuration matrix and the first and second output stages.
14. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 further comprising:
a first buffer disposed between the configuration matrix and the first output stage.
15. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 wherein the first predefined value is not equal to the second predefined value.
16. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 wherein the first predefined value is equal the second predefined value.
17. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 wherein the first regulated output voltage is not equal to the second regulated output voltage.
18. The voltage regulator circuit of claim 9 wherein the first regulated output voltage is equal to the second regulated output voltage.