Advanced pulse width modulation controller ICs for buck DC-DC converters

This dissertation develops power management ICs to tackle the challenges of both accurate and efficient power delivery for today's high performance processors. A double-edge multi-phase low-latency pulse width modulator IC is implemented in a 0.18 mum CMOS process with 0.04 mm2 active area, and demonstrates a fast double-edge pulse width modulation scheme which is important for achieving fast controller response for high bandwidth applications. A multi-mode 4-phase digital IC controller for voltage regulator application is implemented in a 0.18 mum CMOS process with 4 mm 2 active area. The controller combines load current feedforward with voltage mode feedback to achieve fast transient response. A multi-mode control strategy improves the converter efficiency by at least a factor of ten in light load condition. A load-scheduled integrator array is developed in the controller IC which improves the load transient response when the voltage regulator transitions between continuous conduction mode and discontinuous conduction mode.