Patent ID: 6943535

Claim:
A multiple-phase DC—DC converter, comprising: an N-phase switching regulator which provides an output voltage V out at an output terminal, each of said phases comprising: an output inductor, and a switching circuit which switches current to and from said output inductor in response to a respective control signal; a control circuit which provides said N control signals to said N phases during a switching cycle which has a period T and a frequency f 1 , said control signals phase-shifted by T/N with respect to each other such that said phases are synchronously switched in a prescribed sequence, said phases providing respective phase currents which are summed together; and at least one additional phase, each of said additional phases comprising a current generating circuit which provides a current I hp in response to a control signal, said current I hp having a switching frequency f 2 which is equal to or greater than f 1 , said current I hp summed with said N phase currents to provide an output current I out to a load connected to said output terminal, said current I hp providing energy which improves the converter's response to load changes.