A buck-boost DC/DC converter includes an inductor and a power stage having
a set of switches selectively connecting the inductor between a voltage
input, a voltage output and a reference level in accordance with buck or
boost mode. The converter has a switch control providing control signals
to the set of switches in the power stage. A comparator provides to the
switch control a first pulse width modulation signal in buck mode and a
second pulse width modulation signal in boost mode. A ramp generator
provides to the comparator a first ramp signal for buck mode and a second
ramp signal for boost mode. An overlap control provides a ramp shift
signal to the ramp generator in response to a detection signal that
indicates activity of the switches in the power stage. The ramp shift
signal adjusts the first and second ramp signals relative to each other
so as to minimize any gap and any overlap between the first and second
ramp signals. Whenever actuation of all switches in the power stage
within the same clock period is detected, the ramp signals are adjusted
in a way to reduce the overlap between the ramp signals. Conversely, when
no switch activity is detected in a clock period, the ramp signals are
adjusted in a waye to increase the overlap between the ramp signals. As a
result, when the input voltage is close to the output voltage, the
converter alternatively operates in buck mode or in boost mode, avoiding
a buck-boost mode.