MULTIPLE INPUT/MULTIPLE OUTPUT SWITCHING CONVERTER

• US 20170141603A1
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirrus Logic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd. (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Inventors: KING, Eric J., MELANSON, John L., MARU, Siddharth
• Granted Patent: US 10,461,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/084 using a control circuit common to several phases of a multi-phase system
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• 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 accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus may include a power converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage generated by a power supply, an output for generating an output voltage to a load, and a power inductor coupled between the power supply input and the output may and further include an energy storage element coupled to the power supply input, the power inductor, and the output such that operation of the power inductor is split temporally between delivering energy to the energy storage element and delivering energy to the load, and operation of the energy storage element is split temporally between delivering energy to the load and receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage generated by a power supply, an output for generating an output voltage to a load, and a power inductor coupled between the power supply input and the output; and

an energy storage element coupled to the power supply input, the power inductor, and the output such that;

operation of the power inductor is split temporally between delivering energy to the energy storage element and delivering energy to the load; and

operation of the energy storage element is split temporally between delivering energy to the load and receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power converter comprises a switched-mode power supply comprising a plurality of switches configured to be controlled such that the power converter operates in a plurality of modes comprising at least:

a boost mode in which the power converter generates the output voltage greater than the input power supply voltage; and

a buck mode in which the power converter generates the output voltage lesser than the input power supply voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one switching cycle of the power converter in the boost mode comprises a charging phase and a discharging phase such that:

during the charging phase, the power inductor is charged from the power supply and the energy storage element; and

during the discharging phase, the power inductor is discharged to the load.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one switching cycle of the power converter in the buck mode comprises a charging phase and a discharging phase such that:

during the charging phase, the power inductor is charged from the power supply; and

during the discharging phase, the power inductor is discharged to the load and the energy storage element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the power supply comprises a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal;

the first power supply terminal is coupled to the power supply input of the power converter; and

the capacitor has a first capacitor terminal coupled to the power inductor and a second capacitor terminal coupled to the second power supply terminal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power inductor comprises a first inductor terminal coupled to the power supply input and a second inductor terminal coupled to a first storage element terminal of the energy storage element, and the apparatus further comprises a first switch coupled between the second inductor terminal and the load, such that when the first switch is enabled, either energy is delivered to the load from at least one of the energy storage element and the power inductor, or energy is delivered from the load to at least one of the energy storage element and the power inductor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second switch coupled between the first storage element terminal of the energy storage element and the first power inductor terminal, such that when the second switch is enabled, energy is delivered to the power inductor from the energy storage element.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second switch coupled between the first storage element terminal of the energy storage element and the load, such that when the second switch is enabled, energy is delivered to the energy storage element from the load.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein operation of the energy storage element is split temporally among delivering energy to the load, receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load, and neither delivering nor receiving energy.

11. A method comprising, in a power converter having a power supply input for receiving an input power supply voltage generated by a power supply, an output for generating an output voltage to a load, and a power inductor coupled between the power supply input and the output and further having an energy storage element coupled to the power supply input, the power inductor, and the output:

operating the power converter such that the power inductor is split temporally between delivering energy to the energy storage element and delivering energy to the load; and

operating the power converter such that the energy storage element is split temporally between delivering energy to the load and receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the power converter comprises a switched-mode power supply comprising a plurality of switches, the method comprising controlling the plurality of switches such that the power converter operates in a plurality of modes comprising at least:

a boost mode in which the power converter generates the output voltage greater than the input power supply voltage; and

a buck mode in which the power converter generates the output voltage lesser than the input power supply voltage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one switching cycle of the power converter in the boost mode comprises a charging phase and a discharging phase, the method further comprising:

during the charging phase, operating the power converter such that the power inductor is charged from the power supply and the energy storage element; and

during the discharging phase, operating the power converter such that the power inductor is discharged to the load.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one switching cycle of the power converter in the buck mode comprises a charging phase and a discharging phase, the method further comprising:

during the charging phase, operating the power converter such that the power inductor is charged from the power supply; and

during the discharging phase, operating the power converter such that the power inductor is discharged to the load and the energy storage element.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy storage element comprises a capacitor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the power supply comprises a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal;

the first power supply terminal is coupled to the power supply input of the power converter; and

the capacitor has a first capacitor terminal coupled to the power inductor and a second capacitor terminal coupled to the second power supply terminal.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the power inductor comprises a first inductor terminal coupled to the power supply input and a second inductor terminal coupled to a first storage element terminal of the energy storage element, the method further comprising controlling a first switch coupled between the second inductor terminal and the load, such that when the first switch is enabled, either energy is delivered to the load from at least one of the energy storage element and the power inductor, or energy is delivered from the load to at least one of the energy storage element and the power inductor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling a second switch coupled between the first storage element terminal of the energy storage element and the first power inductor terminal, such that when the second switch is enabled, energy is delivered to the power inductor from the energy storage element.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling a second switch coupled between the first storage element terminal of the energy storage element and the load, such that when the second switch is enabled, energy is delivered to the energy storage element from the load.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising operating the power converter such that operation of the energy storage element is split temporally among delivering energy to the load, receiving energy from one or both of the power supply and the load, and neither delivering nor receiving energy.