US 12,323,062 B2
Multi-phase switching regulator including interleaving circuit and switching regulating method using the same
Sun-Kyu Lee, Suwon-si (KR); Nguyen Huyhieu, Suwon-si (KR); Dong-Jin Keum, Seoul (KR); Je-Hyung Yoon, Seoul (KR); and Hee-Seok Han, Yongin-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/131,438.
Application 18/131,438 is a continuation of application No. 17/467,388, filed on Sep. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,699,954.
Application 17/467,388 is a continuation of application No. 16/540,249, filed on Aug. 14, 2019, granted, now 11,152,860, issued on Oct. 19, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2018-0120594 (KR), filed on Oct. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0246551 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02M 3/158 (2006.01); H02M 1/08 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 3/1584 (2013.01) [H02M 1/08 (2013.01); H02M 3/158 (2013.01); H02M 1/0003 (2021.05); H02M 1/0009 (2021.05); H02M 3/1586 (2021.05)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-phase switching regulator, comprising:
a first regulating circuit configured to receive an input voltage, and to output a first sub-output voltage with a first phase to a first output node by transforming the input voltage based on a first power input signal;
a second regulating circuit configured to receive the input voltage, and to output a second sub-output voltage with a second phase to a second output node by transforming the input voltage for a time period which a second power input signal is maintained at a logic high level;
a first current sensor configured to sense a first current flowing in the first output node;
a second current sensor configured to sense a second current flowing in the second output node; and
a current balancer configured to receive a first sensing value of the first current and a second sensing value of the second current, and to output a current control signal to the second regulating circuit based on the first sensing value and the second sensing value,
wherein the second regulating circuit adjusts a duty ratio of the second power input signal corresponding to the time period, based on the current control signal,
wherein the current balancer comprises:
a first sampler configured to generate a first current signal by sampling the first current;
a second sampler configured to generate a second current signal by sampling the second current;
a first filter configured to filter the first current signal;
a second filter configured to filter the second current signal;
a comparator configured to generate a current comparison signal by comparing a filtered first current signal with a filtered second current signal;
a counter configured to output a current raising signal or a current sinking signal based on the current comparison signal; and
at least one current source configured to adjust the current control signal based on the current raising signal or the current sinking signal,
the multi-phase switching regulator further comprising:
an interleaving circuit configured to generate repeatedly and sequentially a first set signal and a second set signal by comparing a reference voltage with an output voltage generated based on the first sub-output voltage and the second sub-output voltage and by repeatedly and alternately emitting a first signal to generate the first set signal when the output voltage declines to the reference voltage and a second signal to generate the second set signal when the output voltage next declines to the reference voltage, and to provide the first set signal to the first regulating circuit and to provide the second set signal to the second regulating circuit,
wherein the first regulating circuit transforms the input voltage in response to the first set signal, and
wherein the second regulating circuit transforms the input voltage in response to the second set signal.