Frequency Synchronization Techniques for DC–DC Converters With Time-Based Control

In this brief, a frequency synchronization method for time-based-controlled power converters is presented. The proposed synchronization technique makes it possible to precisely lock the internal oscillators frequency of the time-based controller (i.e., the power converter switching frequency) to any externally provided clock signal, without trading the dynamic performance. By leveraging the differential structure of the time-based controller, the proposed feedback loop operates orthogonally with respect to the main voltage regulation loop, minimizing any interaction with the latter. The presented frequency synchronization scheme has been implemented on a time-based buck converter in a 180-nm BCD process to fully verify the performance.