Patent ID: 9077244
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. A DC/DC converter for converting an input DC signal at an input node of the converter into an output DC signal at an output node of the converter, comprising: a primary switcher configured as a single-phase converter, the primary switcher including a primary power stage coupled between the input node and the output node, and having at least one primary power switch responsive to the input DC signal for producing the output DC signal, and a controller for producing a switch drive signal for controlling the primary power switch to produce the output DC signal at a desired level, multiple secondary power stages coupled between the input node and the output node for producing the output DC signal, each of the multiple secondary power stages having at least one secondary power switch responsive to the input DC signal for producing the output DC signal, and an expander system coupled to the primary switcher for enabling the controller of the single-phase converter to control the secondary power stages for operation in a multiphase DC/DC conversion mode, the expander system being responsive to the switch drive signal of the controller for producing a master drive signal to form multiple slave drive signals for respectively controlling secondary power switches in the multiple secondary power stages, the slave drive signals having phases shifted with respect to the master drive signal and with respect to each other, the expander system responsive to a difference between sensed values of output current in the primary power stage and a secondary power stage for adjusting a slave drive signal for a respective secondary power switch so as to modify duty cycles of the secondary power switches based on the sensed values of output current.