The ADP3160 and ADP3167 are highly efficient, dual output,
synchronous buck switching regulator controllers optimized for
converting a 5 V or 12 V main supply into the core supply voltage
required by high-performance processors, such as Pentium 4 and
Athlon. The ADP3160 uses an internal 5-bit DAC to read a voltage
identification (VID) code directly from the processor that is
used to set the output voltage between 1.1 V and 1.85 V. The
devices use a current-mode PWM architecture to drive two logiclevel
outputs at a programmable switching frequency that can be
optimized for VRM size and efficiency. The output signals are
180 degrees out of phase, allowing for the construction of two
complementary buck switching stages. These two stages share the
dc output current to reduce overall output voltage ripple. An
active current balancing function ensures that both phases carry
equal portions of the total load current, even under large transient
loads, to minimize the size of the inductors.