6-Phase PWM Controller with Light Load Efficiency Enhancement and Current Monitoring
The ISL6336B controls microprocessor core voltage
regulation by driving up to 6 interleaved synchronous-rectified
buck channels in parallel. Multiphase buck converter
architecture uses interleaved timing to multiply channel ripple
frequency and reduce input and output ripple currents. Lower
ripple results in fewer components, lower component cost,
reduced power dissipation, and smaller implementation area.
Microprocessor loads can generate load transients with
extremely fast edge rates and require high efficiency over
the full load range. The ISL6336B utilizes Intersil’s
proprietary Active Pulse Positioning (APP) and Adaptive
Phase Alignment (APA) modulation scheme and a
proprietary active phase dropping/adding and diode
emulation scheme to achieve extremely fast transient
response with fewer output capacitors and high efficiency
from light load to full load.
The ISL6336B is compliant with Intel’s VR11.1 specification.
Features include a pin (IMON) for current monitoring and a
Power State Indicator (PSI#) input pin to initiate a proprietary
phase dropping and diode emulation scheme for higher
efficiency at light load by dropping to 1- or 2-phase operation
with optional diode emulation to reduce switching and core
losses in the converter. After the PSI# signal is de-asserted,
the dropped phase(s) are added back to sustain heavy load
transient and efficiency.