US 11,942,867 B2
Apparatus and method of controlling a multi-phase power converter, having a plurality of power stage circuits coupled in parallel
Kaiwei Yao, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Zhiyuan Shen, Hangzhou (CN)
Assigned to Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD, Hangzhou (CN)
Filed by Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD, Hangzhou (CN)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/086,874.
Application 18/086,874 is a continuation of application No. 16/894,815, filed on Jun. 7, 2020, granted, now 11,581,812.
Claims priority of application No. 201910512285.X (CN), filed on Jun. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0123031 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02M 3/158 (2006.01); G01R 19/165 (2006.01); G01R 19/175 (2006.01); H02M 1/084 (2006.01); H02M 1/32 (2007.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 3/1584 (2013.01) [G01R 19/16528 (2013.01); G01R 19/175 (2013.01); H02M 1/0845 (2013.01); H02M 1/32 (2013.01); H02M 1/0009 (2021.05); H02M 1/0025 (2021.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling a multi-phase power converter having a plurality of power stage circuits coupled in parallel, the method comprising:
a) obtaining a load current of the multi-phase power converter;
b) controlling a number of power stage circuits that are enabled to operate in accordance with the load current, such that a switching frequency is maintained within a predetermined range when the load current changes; and
c) wherein when more than one power stage circuit is enabled to operate, each of the enabled plurality of power stage circuits operates under a critical conduction mode regardless of a change of the load current, and each main power switch in each corresponding enabled power stage circuit is turned on when a phase current corresponding to the power stage circuit drops to zero, and is turned off according to a feedback signal, such that a switching frequency is inversely proportional to the load current.