Patent ID: 8258769

Claim:
A method of switching a pulse width modulated (PWM) multi-phase voltage converter from a first functioning condition in which all N phase circuits are on to a second functioning condition in which m phase circuits are on and the other N−m phase circuits are off, the voltage converter being driven with PWM driving signals having an initial switching period, the method comprising: driving the N−m phase circuits to be turned off with PWM signals having a null duty-cycle and turning off the N−m phase circuits as the current flowing therethrough is zero; setting a switching period of the m on phase circuits to a value given by a product between m and a ratio between the initial switching period and the number of phase circuits through which a current flows, the setting performed by at least reducing correspondingly the respective off time; and updating the switching period of the m on phase circuits as the N−m phase circuits are turned off.