Patent ID: 7535204

Claim:
A switching power converter comprising: a common energy storage circuit comprising an energy input and adapted to provide a direct current (DC) output signal; N energy transfer legs adapted to receive N switching signals having a common switching frequency, wherein each energy transfer leg is coupled to the energy input and adapted to: receive a DC input signal; and receive one of the N switching signals, and transfer energy from the DC input signal to the energy input based on the one of the N switching signals; and control circuitry adapted to: receive the DC output signal; and provide the N switching signals, wherein during a first period, each of the N switching signals has an active state and during a second period, which is adjacent to the first period, none of the N switching signals has an active state, such that the active state on each of the N switching signals is approximately contiguous to the active state on at least one other of the N switching signals, wherein the control circuitry regulates the DC output signal by controlling the N switching signals based on the DC output signal and an output setpoint.