DSP-Controlled Multiphase Hysteretic VRM With Current Sharing Equalization

Abstract

Many of the new high-speed high-integration density Integrated Circuits (ICs) and future generation of microprocessor powering requirements can be successfully achieved with voltage-mode hysteretic control applied to interleaved multiphase Point-of-Load (POL) DC-DC converters or Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs). This is because of the several advantages that can be achieved by combining the advantages of hysteretic control and interleaving. However, there are several challenges in combining the two techniques, the most prominent being the current sharing and equalization between the interleaved phases. In this communication, we present a solution based on a real-time DSP controller. Challenges of the implementation will be discussed and experimental results obtained from a prototype will be presented.

Novel Current Sharing Schemes for Multiphase Converters with Digital Controller Implementation

“…Digital controllers' implementations are increasingly becoming practical and less costly, which make them more attractive because of their advantages including flexibility, their ability to perform adaptive and estimative algorithms better than analog controllers and they simplify the interface with digital systems. [7][8][9][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Adaptive Controller with Mode Tracking and Parametric Estimation

“…This makes them more attractive because of their advantages including flexibility, ability to perform adaptive and estimative Patent Pending (Intel Corporation) algorithms better than analog controllers and easiness to interface with digital systems. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Over the last few years, adaptive and digital control algorithms have been proposed in the literature [9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Over the last few years, adaptive and digital control algorithms have been proposed in the literature [9][10][11][12][13][14]. One of important challenges to implement these algorithms is that they require high speed sensing and sampling, and therefore add cost, size and power consumption to the digital controller implementation.…”