Phase doubling for switching power supply

Abstract

A switching power supply control system may include logic to generate a greater number of second switching control signals in response to a first number of original switching control signals. For example, the logic may increase the number of phases that may be controlled by an existing switching power supply controller. The logic may be configured to steer feedback signals from the increased number of phases back to original feedback inputs on the controller.

1 . A switching power supply control system comprising:
 an existing switching power supply controller to generate a number of first switching control signals; and   logic to generate a greater number of second switching control signals in response to the first switching control signals.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where the logic may generate:
 a first set of the second switching control signals in a first sequence; and 
 a second set of the second switching control signals in a second sequence. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  where the first and second sequences are the same as a sequence for the first switching control signals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  where the logic may alternate between activating the first set and the second set. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  where the first and second sequences are the same as a sequence for the first switching control signals. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  where the logic includes sequential logic to toggle one or more enable signals in response to one of the first switching control signals. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  where the logic includes a series of logic gates arranged to transmit each of the first switching control signals as one or more of the second switching control signals in response to the one or more enable signals. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further including a feedback network arranged to steer a number of second feedback signals to a lesser number of first feedback signals. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  where the feedback network includes a first series of sensing elements coupled between a number of second switching nodes and a common sensing node. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  where the feedback network further includes a second series of sensing elements coupled between the number of second switching nodes and a lesser number of first switching nodes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  where the first and second sensing elements are arranged to form dividers between the first switching nodes and second switching nodes. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  where the logic may steer a number of second feedback signals to a lesser number of first feedback signals. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  where:
 each of the first feedback signals is coordinated with a corresponding one of the first switching control signals; and 
 each of the second feedback signals is coordinated with a corresponding one of the second switching control signals. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  where the logic includes switches to steer the feedback signals.