Power converters with modular stages
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a power converter that transforms a first voltage into a second voltage, said power converter comprising an a capacitor network and an inductance, said apparatus including a switched-capacitor terminal for connection to said capacitor network, and first and second switch sets, each comprising a plurality of switches, at least one of said switches being connected to said switched-capacitor terminal, said switch sets, when connected to said capacitor network, defining a switched-capacitor network comprising capacitors interconnected by switches with charge transfer between at least two of said capacitors through at least one of said switches being constrained by said inductance, wherein closing switches in said first switch set and opening switches in said second switch set arranges capacitors of said switched-capacitor network into a first state and closing said switches in said second set and opening said switches in said first set arranges said capacitors in a second state, said apparatus further comprising a controller that, when in operation, causes said switched-capacitor network to transition between said first state and the second state at a specific frequency, thereby transferring charge between capacitors and terminals of said switched-capacitor network and causes said inductance to cooperate with said switched-capacitor network to cause transformation of said first voltage into said second voltage.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling a power converter that includes an inductance and a switched-capacitor network that cooperate to transform a first voltage into a second voltage features a controller, a switched-capacitor terminal for connection to the switched-capacitor network, and switches. at least one of which connects to the switched-capacitor terminal.
113 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for controlling a power converter that transforms a first voltage into a second voltage, said power converter comprising an a capacitor network and an inductance, said apparatus including a switched-capacitor terminal for connection to said capacitor network, and first and second switch sets, each comprising a plurality of switches, at least one of said switches being connected to said switched-capacitor terminal, said switch sets, when connected to said capacitor network, defining a switched-capacitor network comprising capacitors interconnected by switches with charge transfer between at least two of said capacitors through at least one of said switches being constrained by said inductance, wherein closing switches in said first switch set and opening switches in said second switch set arranges capacitors of said switched-capacitor network into a first state and closing said switches in said second set and opening said switches in said first set arranges said capacitors in a second state, said apparatus further comprising a controller that, when in operation, causes said switched-capacitor network to transition between said first state and the second state at a specific frequency, thereby transferring charge between capacitors and terminals of said switched-capacitor network and causes said inductance to cooperate with said switched-capacitor network to cause transformation of said first voltage into said second voltage.
Specification