Patent ID: 7317305

Claim:
A multiphase voltage converter comprising: a first inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal; a second inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor; a first high-side switch capable of conducting current from a power source to the first terminal of the first inductor; a first low-side switch capable of conducting current from the first terminal of the first inductor to ground; a filter comprising at least one capacitor coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and to the second terminal of the second inductor; a second high-side switch capable of conducting current from a power source to the first terminal of the second inductor; a second low-side switch capable of conducting current from the first terminal of the second inductor to ground; a converter controller for monitoring a voltage at the filter and for determining switch operation in response thereto; and wherein the converter operates in a rotating phase discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) during periods of low load, the rotating phase DCM characterized by the first high-side switch and the second high-side switch alternating conduction of current pulses.