Multiple output dynamically regulated charge pump power converter

• US 6,643,151 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois, Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois
• Inventors: Busko, Nicholas, Sherrill, James Vig, Milam, William Thomas, Gartstein, Vladimir, Hansen, Peter, Jevtitch, Milan Marcel, Nebrigic, Dragan Danilo
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, YOUNGHUIE JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US09/652,849
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 363/50, 363/60, 363/124, 323/267, 323/284, 323/288, 327/536, 327/589, 307/110
• US Class Current: 363/59
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• 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 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charge pump power converter efficiently provides electrical power by dynamically controlling a switch matrix of the charge pump. Instead of open-loop oscillator-based control, a dynamic controller provides power upon demand by sensing the output voltage and changing the operating frequency of the charge pump in response. Moreover, this closed-loop dynamic control intrinsically voltage regulates the output voltage of the charge pump power converter without the inefficient addition of a step-down voltage regulator, downstream of the power converter. Additional efficiencies are achieved through maintaining the voltage ripple across the fly capacitor and/or the load capacitor. Also, a three-state control scheme is used to charge the fly capacitor, wait for the output voltage to drop to a predetermined level, and discharge the fly capacitor. Furthermore, a multiple-output charge pump power converter provides multiple voltage levels for devices such as portable communication electronic devices.

Claims

1. A power converter comprising:

a power output stage including a load capacitor and a fly capacitor, the power output stage configured to receive an input voltage from an energy source and to provide an output voltage across output terminals, the load capacitor being electrically coupled across the output terminals, the power output stage further configured to switch between a charge state and discharge state, wherein the charge state includes the fly capacitor being electrically in parallel to the input voltage and wherein the discharge state includes the fly capacitor being electrically coupled across the load capacitor; and

a dynamic controller operably coupled to the power output stage and adapted to respond to the output voltage across the load capacitor and to a predetermined reference voltage to transfer electrical charge from the energy source to the load capacitor by switching the fly capacitor to the charge state and back to the discharge state, the dynamic controller further adapted to respond to a fly capacitor voltage across the fly capacitor to switch the fly capacitor from the charge state thereby controlling a voltage ripple band of the fly capacitor voltage.

2. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the dynamic controller is responsive to the fly capacitor voltage in comparison to a maximum fly capacitor voltage threshold and a minimum fly capacitor voltage threshold.

3. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the dynamic controller is responsive to the output voltage being above predetermined threshold by switching the fly capacitor to a wait state wherein the fly capacitor is electrically uncoupled from the energy source and the load capacitor.

4. A electronic device including an energy source, a load device, and the power converter of claim 1 interposed between the energy source and the load device.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the electronic device comprises one of a portable communication device, a portable medical device and a portable audio device.

6. A battery including an energy source, the power converter of claim 1, and output terminals, the output terminals adapted to electrically couple to a load device, the power converter interposed between the energy source and the output terminals.

7. An integrated power converter including a plurality of the power converters of claim 1.