DC-DC transformer with inductor for the facilitation of adiabatic inter-capacitor charge transport

• US 10,715,036 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2019
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: pSemi Corporation (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Original Assignee: pSemi Corporation (Murata Manufacturing Co Limited)
• Inventors: Giuliano, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehari, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US16/260,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20190157972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 323266, 323271, 323288, 323301, 323388, 363 60, 363 71, 363131, 363132
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/073 Charge pumps of the Schenkel-type
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1584 with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

In a power converter, a switching network having switches that operate at a common frequency and duty cycle interconnects circuit elements. These circuit elements include capacitors that are in a capacitor network and a magnetic filter. When connected to the capacitors by a switch from the switching network, the magnetic filter imposes a constraint upon inter-capacitor charge transfer between the capacitors to maintain the filter'"'"'s second terminal at a voltage. The switching network transitions between states. These states include a first state, a second state, and a third state. In both the first state and the third state, the first magnetic-filter terminal couples to the capacitor network. In the second state, which occurs between the first and third state, the switches ground the first magnetic-filter terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power converter that to transform a first voltage at a first power-converter terminal into a second voltage at a second power-converter terminal, said power converter comprising a switching network to interconnect capacitors in a capacitor network and a magnetic filter, said magnetic filter comprising a first magnetic-filter terminal and a second magnetic-filter terminal, wherein, with said capacitors connected to a switch from said switching network, said magnetic filter to impose a constraint upon inter-capacitor charge transfer between said capacitors, wherein said second magnetic-filter terminal is to be maintained at said second voltage, wherein said switches to operate at a common frequency and at a common duty cycle, wherein said switching network to transition between states, said states comprising a first state, a second state, and a third state, wherein, in both said first state and said third state, said first magnetic-filter terminal to couple to said capacitor network, wherein in said second state, said first magnetic-filter terminal is to be grounded, and wherein said second state to occur between said first and said third state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capacitors and said switching network to cooperate to define a single-phase charge pump.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capacitors and said switching network to cooperate to define a multi-phase charge pump.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in said first state, said first magnetic-filter terminal to couple to a node, a cathode of a first capacitor to connect to said node, and an anode of a second capacitor to connect to said node and wherein, in said second state, cathodes of said first and said second capacitors to connect to each other and said first magnetic-filter terminal to connect to an anode of one of said first and said second capacitors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said states to comprise a fourth state, wherein said fourth state to be selected from said first state, said second state, or said third state, wherein said switching network to execute a cycle, wherein said cycle to begin with a transition out of said fourth state and to end with a transition into said fourth state, and wherein said cycle to comprise three transitions between said states.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said states to comprise a fourth state, wherein said fourth state is to be selected from said first state, said second state, or said third state, wherein said switching network to execute a cycle, wherein said cycle to begin with a transition out of said fourth state and to end with a transition into said fourth state, and wherein said cycle to comprise four transitions between said states.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, during said cycle, said second state to occur twice.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching network to comprise a stabilizing switch to connect a stabilizing capacitor to said first magnetic-filter terminal and to disconnect said stabilizing capacitor from said first magnetic-filter terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, during a cycle, each switch in said switching network to sustain a current therethrough and wherein said stabilizing switch to sustain less current than any other switch in said switching network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second magnetic-filter terminal to connect to a capacitor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching network comprises a first switch, wherein said first switch to connect said first magnetic-filter terminal to said capacitor network and to disconnect said first magnetic-filter terminal from said capacitor network.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said switching network comprises a second switch, wherein said second switch to connect said first magnetic-filter terminal to ground with said first switch to disconnect said first magnetic-filter terminal from said capacitor network and wherein said second switch is to be open otherwise.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching network comprises a first switch, wherein said first switch to transition between said first and said second states, wherein in said first state said first magnetic-filter terminal to be connected to ground and in said second state said first magnetic-filter terminal to be disconnected from ground.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic filter comprises an LC circuit to be connected to said capacitor network.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said capacitor network and said switching network to cooperate to define a two-phase charge pump.