Capacitive DC power transformer
First Claim
1. A power converter configured to convert electrical power at a DC input voltage Vin into electrical power at a DC output voltage Vout, the power converter comprisinga plurality of flying capacitors;
- a plurality of switches configured to arrange the plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to a sequence of operation phases;
a control unit configured to control the plurality of switches to repeat the sequence of operation phases at a duty cycle frequency;
wherein the plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in series during the operation phases of the sequence of operation phases; and
wherein the sequence of operation phases comprises at least two operation phases during which the plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in a different order;
wherein within each of the sequence of operation phases, a first subset of the plurality of flying capacitors forms a charging network which is being charged, and a second subset of the plurality of flying capacitors, which is complementary to the first subset, forms a discharge network which is being discharged;
wherein the control unit is configured to control the plurality of switches to arrange the plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to at least one intermediate phase between a first and a succeeding second operation phase of the sequence of operation phases; and
wherein during the intermediate phase a first flying capacitor which is part of the discharge network during the first operation phase and which is part of the charging network during the second operation phase is arranged in parallel to a second flying capacitor which is part of the charging network during the first operation phase and which is part of the discharge network during the second operation phase operation phase.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present document relates to power transformers for electronic computing devices. In particular, a power converter configured to convert electrical power at a DC input voltage Vin into electrical power at a DC output voltage is described. The power converter comprises a plurality of flying capacitors, and a plurality of switches which are configured to arrange the plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to a sequence of operation phases. The power converter comprises a control unit configured to control the plurality of switches to repeat the sequence of operation phases at a duty cycle frequency. The plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in series during the operation phases of the sequence of operation phases. The sequence of operation phases comprises at least two operation phases during which the plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in a different order.
25 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A power converter configured to convert electrical power at a DC input voltage Vin into electrical power at a DC output voltage Vout, the power converter comprising
a plurality of flying capacitors; -
a plurality of switches configured to arrange the plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to a sequence of operation phases; a control unit configured to control the plurality of switches to repeat the sequence of operation phases at a duty cycle frequency;
wherein the plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in series during the operation phases of the sequence of operation phases; and
wherein the sequence of operation phases comprises at least two operation phases during which the plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in a different order;
wherein within each of the sequence of operation phases, a first subset of the plurality of flying capacitors forms a charging network which is being charged, and a second subset of the plurality of flying capacitors, which is complementary to the first subset, forms a discharge network which is being discharged;
wherein the control unit is configured to control the plurality of switches to arrange the plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to at least one intermediate phase between a first and a succeeding second operation phase of the sequence of operation phases; and
wherein during the intermediate phase a first flying capacitor which is part of the discharge network during the first operation phase and which is part of the charging network during the second operation phase is arranged in parallel to a second flying capacitor which is part of the charging network during the first operation phase and which is part of the discharge network during the second operation phase operation phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing a power converter which converts electrical power at a DC input voltage Vin into electrical power at a DC output voltage Vout, the power converter comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of flying capacitors; providing a plurality of switches which arrange said plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to a sequence of operation phases; providing a control unit which controls said plurality of switches to repeat said sequence of operation phases at a duty cycle frequency;
wherein said plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in series during said operation phases of said sequence of operation phases; and
wherein said sequence of operation phases comprises at least two operation phases during which the plurality of flying capacitors is arranged in a different order;
wherein within each of the sequence of operation phases, a first subset of the plurality of flying capacitors forms a charging network which is being charged, and a second subset of the plurality of flying capacitors, which is complementary to the first subset, forms a discharge network which is being discharged;
wherein the control unit is configured to control the plurality of switches to arrange the plurality of flying capacitors in accordance to at least one intermediate phase between a first and a succeeding second operation phase of the sequence of operation phases; and
wherein during the intermediate phase a first flying capacitor which is part of the discharge network during the first operation phase and which is part of the charging network during the second operation phase is arranged in parallel to a second flying capacitor which is part of the charging network during the first operation phase and which is part of the discharge network during the second operation phase operation phase. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification