Circuits and methods for providing multiple phase switching regulators which employ the input capacitor voltage signal for current sensing

Abstract

Circuits and methods to correct the load sharing in multiphase switching regulators are provided. Using these systems and methods, the input capacitor voltage signal can be sampled and used for current sensing of the regulator's stages. Differences in the amount of output current for a converter stage can then be determined. Corrections needed to equalize the output current of the converter stages can then be determined and carried out.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A system comprising: 
 a first converter circuit that operates at a first duty cycle;    a second converter circuit that operates at a second duty cycle, the first and second converter circuits having a common output and a common input; and    a capacitor coupled to the common input, wherein a control signal is provided to adjust at least one of the first and second duty cycles based on a change in voltage of the capacitor.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an error control device that is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuits, wherein an error input signal is provided to the error control device and the error control device provides a correction signal that controls the amount of current supplied by at least one of the first and second converter circuits to the common output.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a sampling circuit that samples the change in voltage of the capacitor.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a sampling circuit that samples the change in voltage of the capacitor, wherein the sampling circuit includes a control switching circuit.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a signal generator is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuits and the signal generator provides a timing signal to at least one of the first and second converter circuits.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a signal generator is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuits.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein a first terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the common input and a second terminal of the capacitor is coupled to ground.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first converter circuit includes a first inductor and the second converter circuit includes a second inductor.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first converter circuit includes a first inductor, the second converter circuit includes a second inductor, the control signal controls the amount of current flowing in the first inductor and equalizes the amount of current flowing through the first inductor to the amount of current flowing through the second inductor.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first converter circuit includes a first switch and a first inductor, the second converter circuit includes a second switch and a second inductor, the state of the first switch determines the amount of current flowing through the first inductor, and the state of the second switch determines the amount of current flowing through the second inductor.  
   
   
       31 . A system comprising: 
 a first converter circuit that includes a first switch, a first inductor, and operates at a first duty cycle;    a second converter circuit that includes a second switch, a second inductor, and operates at a second duty cycle, the first and second converter circuits having a common output and a common input; and    an energy storage device coupled to the common input, wherein a control signal is provided to adjust at least one of the first and second duty cycles based on a change in voltage of the energy storage device.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising an error control device that is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuits, wherein an error input signal is provided to the error control device and the error control device provides a correction signal that controls the amount of current supplied by at least one of the first and second converter circuits to the common output.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a sampling circuit that samples the change in voltage of the energy storage device.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a sampling circuit that samples the change in voltage of the energy storage device, wherein the sampling circuit includes a control switching circuit.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a signal generator is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuits and the signal generator provides a timing signal to at least one of the first and second converter circuits.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a signal generator is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuits.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein a first terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to the common input and a second terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to ground.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first converter circuit includes a first inductor and the second converter circuit includes a second inductor.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first converter circuit includes a first inductor, the second converter circuit includes a second inductor, the control signal controls the amount of current flowing in the first inductor and equalizes the amount of current flowing through the first inductor to the amount of current flowing through the second inductor.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the first converter circuit includes a first switch and a first inductor, the second converter circuit includes a second switch and a second inductor, the state of the first switch determines the amount of current flowing through the first inductor, and the state of the second switch determines the amount of current flowing through the second inductor.  
   
   
       41 . A system comprising: 
 first converter circuit means for providing a first current to an output, wherein the first converter circuit means operates at a first duty cycle;    second converter circuit means for providing a second current to the output, wherein the second converter circuit means operates at a second duty cycle and the first and second converter circuit means have a common input; and    an energy storage device coupled to the common input, wherein a control signal is provided to adjust at least one of the first and second duty cycles based on a change in voltage of the energy storage device.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising sampling circuit means for sampling the change in voltage of the energy storage device.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein a signal generator is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuit means and the signal generator provides a timing signal to at least one of the first and second converter circuit means.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein a signal generator is coupled to at least one of the first and second converter circuit means.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein a first terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to the common input and a second terminal of the energy storage device is coupled to ground.