The ADP3198 is a highly efficient, multiphase, synchronous buck
switching regulator controller optimized for converting a 12 V
main supply into the core supply voltage required by high performance
Intel processors. It uses an internal 8-bit DAC to read
a voltage identification (VID) code directly from the processor,
which is used to set the output voltage between 0.5 V and 1.6 V.
This device uses a multimode PWM architecture to drive the
logic-level outputs at a programmable switching frequency that
can be optimized for VR size and efficiency. The phase relationship
of the output signals can be programmed to provide 2-, 3-,
or 4-phase operation, allowing for the construction of up to
four complementary buck switching stages.
The ADP3198 also includes programmable no load offset and
slope functions to adjust the output voltage as a function of the
load current, optimally positioning it for a system transient. The
ADP3198 also provides accurate and reliable short-circuit
protection, adjustable current limiting, and a delayed powergood
output that accommodates on-the-fly output voltage
changes requested by the CPU.