Apple patents self-tuning power circuits for efficient energy delivery
Apple describes a power management system that uses multiple circuits to deliver electricity to a device's battery or processor. The system turns on different circuits one at a time to measure how well each one performs, then adjusts the settings of the weaker ones to match the stronger ones.
In the filing’s own words
A tunable multi-phase power converter circuit that includes multiple phase circuits coupled to a regulated power supply node via corresponding inductors is disclosed. A control circuit may, during a first time period, activate a particular phase circuit to source a current to the regulated power supply node, and measure a first value of a parameter associated with the regulated power supply node. The control circuit may, during a second time period, activate a different phase circuit source a different current to the regulated power supply node, and measure a second value of the parameter. Additionally, the control circuit may perform a comparison of the first and second values, and adjust one or more operating characteristics of the different phase circuit using a result of the comparison.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first phase circuit coupled to a regulated power supply node via a first inductor, wherein the first phase circuit is configured, in response to being activated, to source a first current to the regulated power supply node via the first inductor; a second phase circuit coupled to the regulated power supply node via a second inductor, wherein the second phase circuit is configured, in response to being activated, to source a second current to the regulated power supply node via the second inductor, and a control circuit configured to: activate, during a first time period, the first phase circuit; measure, during the first time period, at least one parameter of the regulated power supply node to generate a first value; activate, during a second time period, the second phase circuit; measure, during the second time period, the at least one parameter of the regulated power supply node to generate a second value; perform a comparison of the first value and the second value; and adjust one or more operating characteristics of the second phase circuit using a result of the comparison.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- In-system tuning of multi-phase power converter circuits
- Patent number
- US12744464B2
- Application number
- 18808994
- Filed
- Aug 19, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H02M 3/1584 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.