A high-efficiency, wide workload range, digital off-time modulation (DOTM) DC-DC converter with asynchronous power saving technique

Abstract

Conventionally for wide workload range applications, to keep good stability and high efficiency, a switching converter with multi-mode operation is necessary. With the advanced digital signal processing, this work presents an asynchronous digital controller with dynamic power saving technique to achieve high power efficiency. The regulation is based on the off-time modulation, in which an adaptive resolution adjustment is proposed for the extension toward light-loaded range. The DC-DC converter is fabricated in a 0.18-μm CMOS process. The input voltage is from 2.7 to 3.6 V and the regulated output is 1.8 V. The switching frequency is from 44 kHz to 1.65 MHz and the maximum output ripple is 20 mV with a 10-μF capacitor and a 2.2-μH inductor. The power efficiency is higher than 91% for the workload range from 3 to 400 mA. © 1993-2012 IEEE.