Patent ID: 7859238

Claim:
A multiphase voltage converter, comprising: a first inductor having a first and a second terminal; a second inductor having a first and a second terminal, the second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor; a filter including a capacitor connected to the second terminal of each of the first and second inductors; a first high-side switch connected between a high-side power source node and the first terminal of the first inductor; a second high-side switch connected between the high-side power source node and the first terminal of the second inductor; a first low-side switch connected between the first terminal of the first inductor and a low-side power source node; a second low-side switch connected between the first terminal of the second inductor and the low-side power source node; and a converter controller for controlling operation of the high-side and the low-side switches such that the voltage converter operates in a power conservation mode when a converter output load is within a range of load values, the second high-side switch remaining quiescent in the power conservation mode, and the first high-side switch and the first low-side switch conducting current during at least part of a cycle in the power conservation mode.