received by the International Bureau on 17 November 2016 (17.1 1 .2016)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A switching power stage for producing an output voltage to a load, comprising:

a configurable switched mode power converter, comprising:

a power inductor;

a plurality of switches arranged to sequentially operate in a plurality of switch configurations; and

an output for producing the output voltage, the output comprising a first output terminal and a second output terminal; and

a controller configured to, for at least one range of magnitudes of the output voltage:

control the plurality of switches to operate in at least three switching phases per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter in order to generate the output voltage, wherein switching cycles of the configurable switched mode power converter are substantially approximately equal in period; and

control the plurality of switches to apply for each of the at least three switching phases a respective switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations in order to achieve at least one of:

maintenance of a continuous current of the power inductor throughout a dynamic range of the output voltage;

maintenance of a continuous peak current of the power inductor throughout a dynamic range of the output voltage; and

regulation of a common mode voltage of the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

2. The switching power stage of Claim 1, wherein the plurality of switch configurations comprise:

a first configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between a first input terminal of a power supply of the power converter and a second input terminal of the power supply; a second configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first input terminal and the first output terminal;

a third configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first input terminal and the second output terminal;

a fourth configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the second input terminal and the first output terminal;

a fifth configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the second input terminal and the second output terminal; and

a sixth configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

3. The switching power stage of Claim 2, wherein, in the first configuration, the power inductor is coupled to the first input terminal via a first terminal of the power inductor, and wherein the plurality of switch configurations comprise a seventh configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first input terminal and the second input terminal such that the power inductor is coupled to the first input terminal via a second terminal of the power inductor.

4. The switching power stage of Claim 2, further comprising one or more additional configurations analogous to at least one of the first configuration, second configuration, third configuration, fourth configuration, fifth configuration, and sixth configuration in which the a polarity of the power inductor is reversed relative to that of the first configuration, second configuration, third configuration, fourth configuration, fifth configuration, and sixth configuration.

5. The switching power stage of Claim 2, wherein for at least one of the at least one three phases, the configuration for such phase is selected based on a common mode voltage of the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

6. The switching power stage of Claim 1, wherein the at least one range of magnitudes comprises a range of magnitudes greater than a first threshold voltage and magnitudes lesser than a second threshold voltage.

7. The switching power stage of Claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to for magnitudes of the output voltage outside of the range of magnitudes, control the plurality of switches to operate in two switching phases per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter.

8. The switching power stage of Claim 6, wherein the range of magnitudes comprises:

a first subrange for magnitudes of the output voltage lesser than a supply voltage of a power supply the power converter, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the power converter in a differential output mode; and

a second subrange for magnitudes of the output voltage greater than the supply voltage, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the power converter in a single-ended output mode in which one of the first output terminal and one of the second output terminal is coupled to an input terminal of the power supply during all of the at least three phases.

9. The switching power stage of Claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control durations of the at least three phases by applying a volt-second balance for each switching cycle. 10. The switching power stage of Claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control durations of at least one of the at least three phases based on at least one of:

a peak current of one of the at least three phases and a duration of another of the at least three phases;

duration of two of the at least three phases;

peak currents of two of the at least three phases; and

electrical charge transferred in two of the at least three phases.

1 1. A method for producing an output voltage to a load, comprising:

in a configurable switched mode power converter, comprising a power inductor, a plurality of switches arranged to sequentially operate in a plurality of switch configurations, and an output for producing the output voltage, the output comprising a first output terminal and a second output terminal, for at least one range of magnitudes of the output voltage, controlling the plurality of switches to operate in at least three switching phases per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter in order to generate the output voltage, wherein switching cycles of the configurable switched mode power converter are substantially approximately equal in period; and

controlling the plurality of switches to apply for each of the at least three switching phases a respective switch configuration of the plurality of switch configurations in order to achieve at least one of:

maintenance of a continuous current of the power inductor throughout a dynamic range of the output voltage;

maintenance of a continuous peak current of the power inductor throughout a dynamic range of the output voltage; and

regulation of a common mode voltage of the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

12. The method of Claim 11, wherein the plurality of switch configurations comprise:

a first configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between a first input terminal of a power supply of the power converter and a second input terminal of the power supply; a second configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first input terminal and the first output terminal;

a third configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first input terminal and the second output terminal;

a fourth configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the second input terminal and the first output terminal;

a fifth configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the second input terminal and the second output terminal; and

a sixth configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

13. The method of Claim 12, wherein, in the first configuration, the power inductor is coupled to the first input terminal via a first terminal of the power inductor, and wherein the plurality of switch configurations comprise a seventh configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first input terminal and the second input terminal such that the power inductor is coupled to the first input terminal via a second terminal of the power inductor.

14. The method of Claim 12, further comprising one or more additional configurations analogous to at least one of the first configuration, second configuration, third configuration, fourth configuration, fifth configuration, and sixth configuration in which the a polarity of the power inductor is reversed relative to that of the first configuration, second configuration, third configuration, fourth configuration, fifth configuration, and sixth configuration.

15. The method of Claim 12, wherein for at least one of the at least one three phases, the configuration for such phase is selected based on a common mode voltage of the first output terminal and the second output terminal.

16. The method of Claim 11, wherein the at least one range of magnitudes comprises a range of magnitudes greater than a first threshold voltage and magnitudes lesser than a second threshold voltage.

17. The method of Claim 16, further comprising for magnitudes of the output voltage outside of the range of magnitudes, controlling the plurality of switches to operate in two switching phases per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter.

18. The method of Claim 16, wherein the range of magnitudes comprises: a first subrange for magnitudes of the output voltage lesser than a supply voltage of a power supply the power converter, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the power converter in a differential output mode; and

a second subrange for magnitudes of the output voltage greater than the supply voltage, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the power converter in a single-ended output mode in which one of the first output terminal and one of the second output terminal is coupled to an input terminal of the power supply during all of the at least three phases.

19. The method of Claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to control durations of the at least three phases by applying a volt-second balance for each switching cycle.

20. The method of Claim 11, further comprising controlling durations of at least one of the at least three phases based on at least one of:

a peak current of one of the at least three phases and a duration of another of the at least three phases;

duration of two of the at least three phases;

peak currents of two of the at least three phases; and

electrical charge transferred in two of the at least three phases.

21. A switching power stage for producing an output voltage to a load, comprising:

a configurable switched mode power converter, comprising:

a power inductor;

a first supply terminal coupled to a first supply voltage;

a second supply terminal coupled to a second supply voltage; an output for producing the output voltage, the output comprising a first output terminal and a second output terminal; and

a plurality of switches including switches for respectively coupling the power inductor to each of the first supply terminal, the second supply terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal, such that the plurality of switches provides at least seven switching configurations of the plurality of switches among of the first supply terminal, the second supply terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal; and

a controller configured to enable at least three switching configurations of the at least seven switching configurations per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter, wherein switching cycles of the configurable switched mode power converter are substantially approximately equal in period.

22. The switching power stage of Claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to enable three switching configurations of the at least seven switching configurations per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter. 23. The switching power stage of Claim 21, wherein one of the at least three switching configurations comprises the plurality of switches activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal. 24. The switching power stage of Claim 21, wherein one of the at least three switching configurations comprises the plurality of switches activated and deactivated such that one of the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal is coupled to one of the first output terminal and the second output terminal. 25. The switching power stage of Claim 21, wherein one of the at least three switching configurations comprises the plurality of switches activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal. 26. The switching power stage of Claim 21, wherein the at least three switching configurations comprise four switching configurations.

27. The switching power stage of Claim 26, wherein the four switching configurations comprise:

a first switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal;

a second switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the second supply terminal and the second output terminal; 40

a third switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and

a fourth switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first supply terminal and the first output terminal.

28. The switching power stage of Claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to enable only three of the first switching configuration, the second switching configuration, the third switching configuration, and the fourth switching configuration during a switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter.

29. The switching power stage of Claim 27, wherein the controller is configured to enable all four of the first switching configuration, the second switching configuration, the third switching configuration, and the fourth switching configuration during a switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter.

30. A method for producing an output voltage to a load, comprising, in a configurable switched mode power converter, comprising a power inductor, a first supply terminal coupled to a first supply voltage, a second supply terminal coupled to a second supply voltage, an output for producing the output voltage, the output comprising a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and a plurality of switches including switches for respectively coupling the power inductor to each of the first supply terminal, the second supply terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal, such that the plurality of switches provides at least seven switching configurations of the plurality of switches among of the first supply terminal, the second supply terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal:

enabling at least three switching configurations of the at least seven switching configurations per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter, wherein switching cycles of the configurable switched mode power converter are substantially approximately equal in period. 41

31. The method of Claim 30, further comprising enabling three switching configurations of the at least seven switching configurations per switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter. 32. The method of Claim 30, wherein one of the at least three switching configurations comprises the plurality of switches activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal. 33. The method of Claim 30, wherein one of the at least three switching configurations comprises the plurality of switches activated and deactivated such that one of the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal is coupled to one of the first output terminal and the second output terminal. 34. The method of Claim 30, wherein one of the at least three switching configurations comprises the plurality of switches activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal. 35. The method of Claim 30, wherein the at least three switching configurations comprise four switching configurations.

36. The method of Claim 35, wherein the four switching configurations comprise:

a first switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal;

a second switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the second supply terminal and the second output terminal; 42

a third switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first output terminal and the second output terminal; and

a fourth switching configuration wherein the plurality of switches are activated and deactivated such that the power inductor is coupled between the first supply terminal and the first output terminal.

37. The method of Claim 36, further comprising enabling only three of the first switching configuration, the second switching configuration, the third switching configuration, and the fourth switching configuration during a switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter.

38. The method of Claim 36, further comprising enabling all four of the first switching configuration, the second switching configuration, the third switching configuration, and the fourth switching configuration during a switching cycle of the configurable switched mode power converter.