Patent ID: 9106201
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: G05F,H02M,H03H

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling phase current imbalance in a multiphase DC-to-DC converter, comprising: determining a current magnitude value for each phase of the multiphase DC-to-DC converter, where each current magnitude value corresponds to magnitude of current out of one or more switching devices of the phase; identifying a smallest current magnitude value; firing a phase corresponding to the smallest current magnitude value; generating a desired current signal representing a desired load current of the DC-to-DC converter; generating a total current signal representing a load current of the DC-to-DC converter, the total current signal derived from the current magnitude value for each phase of the DC-to-DC converter; generating a current difference signal representing an amount by which the total current signal exceeds the desired current signal; comparing the current difference signal to a reference signal; and in response to a magnitude of the current difference signal exceeding a magnitude of the reference signal, turning on a currently turned off freewheeling switching device, before a normal turn-on time of the freewheeling switching device, and turning off a currently turned on control switching device, of one or more phases of the DC-to-DC converter.