SWITCHED-CAPACITOR CONVERTERS WITH LOW-VOLTAGE GATE DRIVERS
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power-conversion apparatus includes active-semiconductor switches configured to transition between first and second states that result in corresponding first and second electrical interconnections between capacitors and at least one of first and second terminals configured to be coupled to first and second external circuits at corresponding first and second voltages, a pre-charge circuit coupled to at least one of the capacitors, and gate-driver circuits, each of which includes a control input, power connections, and a drive output. Each switch is coupled to and controlled by a drive output of one of the gate-driver circuits. Power for the gate-driver circuits comes from charge stored on at least one of the capacitors via the power connection of that gate-driver circuit.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1-28. -28. (canceled)
- 29. An apparatus for power conversion, said apparatus comprising a pre-charge circuit, switches, and gate-driver circuits, wherein said switches comprise active semiconductor switch elements, wherein said switches are configured to transition between first and second states that result in corresponding first and second electrical interconnections between capacitors and at least one of first and second terminals, wherein said first terminal is configured to couple to a first external circuit at a first voltage, wherein said second terminal is configured to couple to a second voltage that has a magnitude that is less than that of said first voltage, wherein said pre-charge circuit is coupled to at least one of said capacitors, wherein each gate-driver circuit comprises a control input, power connections, and a drive output, wherein each switch is coupled to and controlled by a drive output of one of said gate-driver circuits, wherein said gate-driver circuits comprise a first gate-driver circuit, and wherein said first gate-driver circuit receives power via a power connection thereof from at least one of said capacitors.
- 43. An apparatus for converting between voltages, said apparatus comprising a plurality of switches, a pre-charge circuit, gate-driver circuits, a first terminal, and a second terminal, wherein said first and second terminals are configured for coupling to corresponding first and second external circuits at corresponding first and second voltages, wherein, during operation of said apparatus, said plurality of switches transitions between successive states, each state being characterized by a switch-activation pattern that defines which switches are to be open and which switches are to be closed during said state, wherein said successive states define successive switched-capacitor networks, wherein a transition from one successive state to the next results in dismantling of a switched-capacitor network and construction of a new switched-capacitor network, wherein, in operation, said successive switched-capacitor networks and said first and second terminals collectively define a switched-capacitor converter, wherein at least some of said capacitors connect to said pre-charge circuit, wherein each gate-driver circuit comprises power connections, a control input, and a drive output coupled to and for control of at least one switch, and wherein said gate-driver circuits comprise a first gate-driver circuit that is configured to be powered via corresponding first and second power connections.
- 48. An apparatus for converting voltage, said apparatus comprising a pre-charge circuit, terminals, gate-driver circuits, switches, and a switched-capacitor converter, wherein said terminals are configured for coupling to corresponding external circuits at corresponding voltages, wherein said switches comprise active semiconducting-elements that electrically interconnect capacitors to form a switched-capacitor network that is configured to transition between successive states, wherein at least one of said capacitors is coupled to said pre-charge circuit, wherein said switches electrically interconnect said capacitors in said successive states to one another and to said terminals, wherein each gate-driver circuit comprises a drive output, power connections, and a control input, wherein each drive output is coupled to and controls one of said switches, wherein said gate-driver circuits comprise a first gate-driver circuit that controls a switch element, wherein said first gate-driver circuit is powered via said power connections thereof by charge stored on at least one of said capacitors, and wherein said terminals and said switches are constituents of said switched-capacitor converter.
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61. A method for converting a first voltage into a second voltage, said method comprising connecting a first terminal of a switched-capacitor power converter to a first external circuit, said switched-capacitor power converter comprising a switched-capacitor network in which capacitors are selectively interconnected by active semiconductor-switches, connecting a second terminal of said switched-capacitor power converter to a second external circuit, before beginning normal operation of said switched-capacitor power converter, pre-charging at least one capacitor within said switched-capacitor power converter, providing first control-signals to control inputs of gate-driver circuitry of said power converter, wherein said first control-signals cause first drive-signals at corresponding drive-outputs of said gate-driver circuitry, wherein said first drive-signals cause said active semiconductor-switches to execute a first switch-activation pattern, providing second control-signals to control inputs of said gate-driver circuitry, wherein said second control-signals cause second drive-signals at corresponding drive-outputs of said gate-driver circuitry, wherein said second drive-signals cause said active semiconductor-switches to execute a second switch-activation pattern, and providing power to said gate-driver circuitry through power connections thereof, said power being provided by capacitors from said switched-capacitor network, wherein, in said first switch-activation pattern, a first series of active semiconductor-switches connect first and second capacitors in said switched-capacitor network of said power converter so as to permit conduction current to flow between high-voltage terminals of first and second capacitors, wherein providing said power comprises causing a voltage across said power connections to be less than a highest of said first and second voltages.
Specification