Multi-phase power controller, multi-phase power control device and operation method of multi-phase power controller

A multi-phase power controller is adapted for operating N power channels and is coupled to M drivers and an external system. The M drivers respectively have an enabling pin, and the multi-phase power controller includes a power state pin and M control pins. The power state pin is coupled to the enabling pin of each of the M drivers and the external system. The M control pins are coupled to the M drivers. In a power start period of the multi-phase power controller, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller is less than N. After the power start period, the multi-phase power controller enables the M drivers through the power state pin and notifies the external system that a power start procedure has been completed through the power state pin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 105129899, filed on Sep. 14, 2016. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a power conversion technology and more particularly relates to a multi-phase power controller, a multi-phase power control device, and an operation method of the multi-phase power controller.

Description of Related Art

Generally, a multi-phase power conversion device is provided with a multi-phase power controller therein for controlling operations of multiple drivers and multiple power output stages in the device. To cope with the need of control over multiple drivers, the conventional multi-phase power controller usually requires additional drive enabling pins for enabling the multiple drivers, and the multi-phase power controller also needs a power state pin, so as to notify an external system whether the power supply state of the multi-phase power controller is normal. However, such a configuration would greatly increase the number of pins of the multi-phase power controller and raise the manufacturing cost of the multi-phase power controller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a multi-phase power controller, a multi-phase power control device, and an operation method of the multi-phase power controller for enabling a plurality of drivers by a power state pin, which is conducive to reducing the pin number of the multi-phase power controller and the manufacturing cost.

The invention provides a multi-phase power controller that is adapted for operating N power channels and coupled to M drivers and an external system. The M drivers respectively include an enabling pin. The multi-phase power controller includes a power state pin and M control pins. N is greater than M. M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The power state pin is coupled to the enabling pin of each of the drivers and the external system. The M control pins are coupled to the M drivers. In a power start period of the multi-phase power controller, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller is less than N. After the power start period, the multi-phase power controller enables the M drivers through the power state pin and notifies the external system that a power start procedure has been completed through the power state pin.

The invention provides a multi-phase power control device that includes N power channels and is coupled to an external system. The multi-phase power control device includes M drivers and a multi-phase power controller. N is greater than M, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The multi-phase power controller includes a power state pin. The power state pin is coupled to the enabling pin of each of the drivers and the external system. In a power start period of the multi-phase power controller, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller is less than N. After the power start period, the multi-phase power controller enables the M drivers through the power state pin and notifies the external system that a power start procedure has been completed through the power state pin.

The invention provides an operation method of a multi-phase power controller, which is adapted for operating N power channels and includes a power state pin coupled to an external system and M enabling pins of M drivers. The operation method includes the following steps. In a power start period, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller is less than N. N is greater than M, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. After the power start period, the M drivers are enabled through the power state pin and the external system is notified of that a power start procedure has been completed through the power state pin.

Based on the above, in the power start period, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller of the invention is less than the maximum number N of the power channels that can be operated, and after the power start period, the multi-phase power controller enables a plurality of drivers through the power state pin. Accordingly, the pin number and manufacturing cost of the multi-phase power controller are reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a multi-phase power control device according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 1, a multi-phase power control device100includes M drivers111to11M, N power output stages101to10N, and a multi-phase power controller120, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, N is an integer, and N is greater than M. Further, the multi-phase power control device100includes N power channels131to13N corresponding to the N power output stages101to10N. Specifically, the multi-phase power control device100is, for example, a multi-phase power conversion device having N phases for converting an input voltage VIN into an output voltage VO. In other words, the multi-phase power controller120is adapted for operating the N power channels131to13N. That is, the maximum number of workable phases of the multi-phase power controller120is N.

The multi-phase power controller120includes a power state pin121, and the drivers111to11M respectively have an enabling pin. For example, the M drivers111to11M include M enabling pins141to14M. The power state pin121is coupled to the M enabling pins141to14M and an external system150. In a power start period of the multi-phase power controller120, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller120is less than N. For example, in the power start period, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller120is equal to or less than (N−M).

In the power start period, the multi-phase power controller120controls the power output stage101coupled to the power channel131. At the moment, the power state pin121has not enabled the M drivers111to11M yet. At the moment, the multi-phase power control device100gradually raises the output voltage VO through the power output stage101. The output voltage VO may be fed back to the multi-phase power controller120. The multi-phase power controller120determines whether the output voltage VO is increased to a target level. When the output voltage VO is increased to the target level, the multi-phase power controller120ends the power start period. In other words, in the power start period, the number of phases enabled by the multi-phase power control device100is less than the maximum number of workable phases.

After the power start period, the multi-phase power controller120enables the M drivers111to11M through the power state pin121and notifies the external system150that a power start procedure has been completed through the power state pin121. In other words, the multi-phase power controller120controls the M drivers111to11M through the power state pin121. In comparison with the conventional technology, the multi-phase power controller120does not need to be equipped with enabling pins that are disposed especially for the M drivers111to11M. Thus, the pin number and manufacturing cost of the multi-phase power controller120are reduced. Moreover, in the power start period, the multi-phase power controller120further executes a function setting operation through unused power channels, by which the pin number and the manufacturing cost of the multi-phase power controller120are further reduced.

To more clearly explain the invention to those skilled in the art,FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating the multi-phase power control device according to another embodiment of the invention;FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the multi-phase power controller according to an embodiment of the invention; andFIG. 4is a timing diagram of the multi-phase power control device according to an embodiment of the invention. Details of the operation of the multi-phase power control device are described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 2toFIG. 4.

As shown inFIG. 2, the multi-phase power controller120includes M control pins211to21M coupled to the M drivers111to11M and control pins221and222directly coupled to the power output stage101for operating the N power channels131to13N. The multi-phase power controller120further includes a controller230, a driver240, and an enabling pin250. The driver240is coupled between the controller230and the control pins221to222, and the controller230is coupled to the power state pin121and the M control pins211to21M.

In terms of operation, the multi-phase power controller120starts to operate in response to an enabling signal EN2from the enabling pin250. As shown inFIG. 4, the multi-phase power controller120enters a power start period T41as the multi-phase power controller120starts to operate. The power start period T41includes a soft start period T42. The controller230performs an initializing procedure in an initial stage of the power start period T41and then performs a soft start operation in the soft start period T42, so as to boost the output voltage VO.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, as shown in Step S310, in the power start period T41, the number of the power channels operated by the multi-phase power controller120is less than N. The first terminal of an external resistor270receives a reference voltage VR, and the second terminal of the external resistor270is coupled to an internal switch (not shown) of the multi-phase power controller120through the power state pin121. In the power start period T41, the controller230turns on the internal switch, so as to pull the second terminal of the external resistor270down to the ground terminal. Thereby, a power state signal S2is maintained at a first level LV41(i.e., ground voltage), such that the M drivers111to11M remain in a disabled state.

As shown in Step S320, in the soft start period T42of the power start period T41, the controller230lowers a slew rate (i.e., voltage-time curve slope) of the output voltage VO generated by the power output stages101to10N, so as to extend the time of the soft start period T42and reduce a surge current of the workable phase. Thus, in the soft start period T42, the multi-phase power control device100is able to perform soft start with fewer power channels. That is, in the soft start period T42, the multi-phase power control device100gradually raises the output voltage VO to the target level LV43by using only part of the phases (e.g., the power output stage101).

As shown in Step S330, in the soft start period T42of the power start period T41, i.e., in a soft start mode, the controller230sets a plurality of parameters through the M external parameter setting devices261to26M. In the soft start period T42, the multi-phase power controller120transmits a setting current IR to the M external parameter setting devices261to26M respectively. The external parameter setting device261generates a setting voltage in response to the setting current, such that the controller230sets a parameter in response to the setting voltage. The external parameter setting device262generates another setting voltage in response to the setting current, such that the controller230sets another parameter in response to the another setting voltage. The operation of the rest of the parameter setting devices may be inferred from the above.

When the output voltage VO of the multi-phase power control device100is increased to the target level LV43, the multi-phase power controller120ends the power start period T42and enters a normal operation period T43, i.e., a normal operation mode. As shown in Step S340, after the power start period T42, i.e., in the normal operation period T43, the multi-phase power controller120enables the M drivers111to11M through the power state pin121and notifies the external system150that a power start procedure has been completed through the power state pin121. That is, the multi-phase power controller120notifies the external system150that the output voltage VO has risen to the target level LV43.

When the power start procedure has been completed, i.e., when the output voltage VO is increased to the target level LV43, the controller230turns off the internal switch coupled to the power state pin121, so as to pull the power state signal S2up to the second level LV42(i.e., the reference voltage VR). Thereby, the M drivers111to11M are switched to an enabled state in response to the power state signal S2with the second level LV42, i.e., a power good signal. In the normal operation period T43, in addition to continuously generating a pulse width modulation signal PU21, the controller230further generates pulse width modulation signals PU22to PU2N. The multi-phase power controller120transmits the pulse width modulation signals PU22to PU2N to the M drivers111to11M through the M control pins211to21M.

In the normal operation period T43, the M drivers111to11M drive the power output stages102to10N in response to the pulse width modulation signals PU22to PU2N. Take the power output stage10N as an example, the driver11M generates a plurality of driving signals in response to the pulse width modulation signal PU2N. The output stage circuit201switches conductive states of the upper bridge switch SW21and the lower bridge switch SW22according to the driving signals. A current flowing through the inductor L2changes according to the change of the conductive states of the upper bridge switch SW21and the lower bridge switch SW22, and the capacitor C2also charges or discharges correspondingly. The input voltage VIN is converted into the output voltage VO through the output stage circuit201and the impedance circuit202. In the normal operation period T43, the multi-phase power control device100maintains the output voltage VO at the target level LV43by all the phases (e.g., the power output stages101to10N).

In another embodiment, the driver240is disposed outside the multi-phase power controller120. In that case, the multi-phase power controller120controls the driver240disposed outside through the control pins221and222. For example, the multi-phase power controller120transmits the pulse width modulation signal PU21to the driver240disposed outside through the control pin221and transmits the enabling signal for controlling the driver240through the control pin222.

In a word, the multi-phase power controller120controls the output voltage VO generated by the N power output stages101to10N through the M drivers111to11M. When the output voltage VO is increased to the target level LV43, i.e., when the power start procedure has been completed, the multi-phase power controller120is switched from the soft start period T42to the normal operation period T43and notifies the external system150of the switch through the power state pin121. In the soft start period T42, the multi-phase power controller120disables the M drivers111to11M through the power state pin121, so as to raise the output voltage VO to the target level LV43by part of the phases or the power output stages. In the normal operation period T43, the multi-phase power controller120enables the M drivers111to11M through the power state pin121, so as to maintain the output voltage VO at the target level LV43by all of the phases or the power output stages.

To sum up, the multi-phase power controller of the invention controls the M drivers through the power state pin. In comparison with the conventional technology, the multi-phase power controller of the invention does not need to be equipped with enabling pins that are disposed especially for the M drivers. Thus, the pin number and manufacturing cost of the multi-phase power controller are reduced. Moreover, in the power start period, the multi-phase power controller may further execute a function setting operation through the unused power channels, by which the pin number and the manufacturing cost of the multi-phase power controller are further reduced.