Patent ID: 7443146

Claim:
A DC-DC converter comprising: a plurality of power switching stages, each of which includes a plurality of output power switches having current flow paths therethrough coupled through respective mutually-coupled output inductors to an output node; and a controller that is operative to apply primary switching signals to power switches of at least one of said power switching stages for controlling times during which power switches thereof are conductive to provide current flow paths therethrough, said controller including logical functionality operative to monitor on/off stages of transistors comprising said power switches and to provide auxiliary switching signals that are effective to turn-on a first power switch of a first output power switching stage, in association with induced current in the output inductor of said first output power switching stage resulting from current flow through a mutually coupled inductor of a second output power switching stage, wherein said induced current is prevented from flowing through a body-diode of said first power switch of said first output power switching stage.