US Patent Application 18355590. MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM simplified abstract

MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM

Organization Name

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Inventor(s)

Russell Kinder of Austin TX (US)

MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18355590 titled 'MULTI-PHASE VOLTAGE REGULATOR SYSTEM

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes multiphase voltage regulator systems that use parallel signal pathways to maintain a constant voltage output.

• The parallel signal pathways charge and discharge energy storage elements to generate energy.
• The discharged energy is combined to create the analog output signal.
• One of the charging signals is compared to a reference input signal to determine the error between the reference and the output signal.
• The charging signals are adjusted based on this error to minimize the difference.
• Manufacturing variations and misalignment tolerances can cause mismatches between the parallel signal pathways.
• The remaining charging signals are compared to the global error correction signal to quantify these mismatches.
• The remaining charging signals are adjusted based on the local error correction signals to compensate for the mismatches.

Original Abstract Submitted

Multiphase voltage regulator systems are disclosed which include parallel signal pathways that functionally cooperate to provide an analog output signal at a constant, or substantially constant, voltage. The parallel signal pathways generate energy storage element charging signals to charge and/or discharge energy storage elements. Energy provided by discharging energy storage elements is thereafter combined to provide the analog output signal. Moreover, the parallel signal pathways compare one of the energy storage element charging signals with a reference input signal to provide a global error correction signal representing a difference, or error, between the reference input signal and the analog output signal. The parallel signal pathways thereafter adjust the energy storage element charging signals in accordance with the global error correction signal to lessen this difference or error. In some situations, manufacturing variations and/or misalignment tolerances present within the parallel signal pathways can cause mismatches between the parallel signal pathways. In these situations, the parallel signal pathways compare remaining energy storage element charging signals to the global error correction signal to provide local error correction signals to quantify these mismatches. Thereafter, the parallel signal pathways adjust the remaining energy storage element charging signals in accordance with the one or more local error correction signals to compensate for these mismatches.