Switched-capacitor split drive transformer power conversion circuit
First Claim
1. A power converter having an input and an output, the power converter comprising:
- a power distribution and inverter stage having an input coupled to the input of the power converter and a plurality of outputs, wherein in response to a signal provided to the input of said power distribution and inverter stage, a set of voltage domains are formed at the plurality of outputs of the power distribution and inverter stage;
a split drive transformer stage having a plurality of windings coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of outputs of said power distribution and inverter stage and having at least one output, said split drive transformer stage including a transformer structure having at least one magnetic flux linkage and said transformer structure configured to be driven by multiple ones of the set of voltage domains of said power distribution and inverter stage; and
a power combiner and rectifier stage having at least input coupled to at least one output of said split drive transformer stage and having an output coupled to the output of the power convertersaid power distribution and inverter stage including a level selection circuit comprising at least one inductive element which serves as an energy storage device and a plurality of switching elements coupled to said at least one inductive element and wherein in response to one or more control signals provided thereto, the plurality of switching elements distribute current from said inductive element to at least two of the voltage domains of the power distribution and inverter stage such that at least one voltage of said set of voltage domains is regulated to a desired value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A split drive transformer (SDT) and use of such a transformer in a power converter is described. The power converter includes a power and distributor circuit configured to receive one or more input signals and provides multiple signals to a first side of the SDT. The SDT receives the signals provided to the first side thereof and provides signals at a second side thereof to a power combiner and rectifier circuit which is configured to provide output signals to a load. In some embodiments, the SDT may be provided as a switched-capacitor (SC) SDT. In some embodiments, the power converter may optionally include a level selection circuit (LSC) on one or both of the distributor and combiner sides.
305 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A power converter having an input and an output, the power converter comprising:
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a power distribution and inverter stage having an input coupled to the input of the power converter and a plurality of outputs, wherein in response to a signal provided to the input of said power distribution and inverter stage, a set of voltage domains are formed at the plurality of outputs of the power distribution and inverter stage; a split drive transformer stage having a plurality of windings coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of outputs of said power distribution and inverter stage and having at least one output, said split drive transformer stage including a transformer structure having at least one magnetic flux linkage and said transformer structure configured to be driven by multiple ones of the set of voltage domains of said power distribution and inverter stage; and a power combiner and rectifier stage having at least input coupled to at least one output of said split drive transformer stage and having an output coupled to the output of the power converter said power distribution and inverter stage including a level selection circuit comprising at least one inductive element which serves as an energy storage device and a plurality of switching elements coupled to said at least one inductive element and wherein in response to one or more control signals provided thereto, the plurality of switching elements distribute current from said inductive element to at least two of the voltage domains of the power distribution and inverter stage such that at least one voltage of said set of voltage domains is regulated to a desired value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification