# US 10,770,972 B2 · Asymmetric switching capacitor regulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,770,972 B2 - Document ID: US10770972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/436,203 - Filed: 2019-06-10 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-17 - Assignees: Lion Semiconductor Inc. - Applicants: Lion Semiconductor Inc. - Inventors: John Crossley; Hanh-Phuc Le; Alberto Alessandro Angelo Puggelli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770972B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 1/14: Arrangements for reducing ripples from DC input or output - H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)} - H02M 1/4291: {by using a Buck converter to switch the input current} - H02M 3/072: {adapted to generate an output voltage whose value is lower than the input voltage} - 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 - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract The present disclosure provides an asymmetric switching capacitor regulator that is capable of providing an output voltage, covering a wide voltage range, with a high efficiency. The disclosed switching capacitor regulator is configured to generate a wide range of an output voltage by differentiating a voltage across one or more switching capacitors from a voltage across the rest of the switching capacitors in the switching capacitor regulator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A voltage regulator, configured to receive an input voltage at an input node and to provide an output voltage at an output node, comprising: an inductor; a first capacitor; a second capacitor; a switch matrix that is configured to alternate between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the switch matrix is configured to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in a parallel relationship through the inductor, and wherein, in the second configuration, the switch matrix is configured to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in a series relationship between the input node and a ground node; and a plurality of power switches configured to induce a current through the inductor to provide a voltage differential between the first capacitor and the second capacitor in the first configuration, wherein the plurality of switches are configured to alternate between a first state and a second state in the first configuration to provide the voltage differential between the first capacitor and the second capacitor, wherein, in the second configuration, the second capacitor is coupled to the output node and is in parallel with a decoupling capacitor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power switches are off in the second configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of switches alternate between the first state and the second state at a predetermined duty cycle, and wherein the voltage differential is based on the predetermined duty cycle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein, in the first configuration, the inductor and the first capacitor are in a series relationship, and the inductor and the first capacitor are collectively in a parallel relationship with the second capacitor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are switching capacitors that are, in the first configuration, at a same layer of a stack of capacitors coupling the input node and the ground node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch and a second switch, and wherein, in the first state, the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel through the inductor, and in the second state, the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on to de-couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch and a second switch, and wherein the first switch is disposed between the output node and the inductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch and a second switch, and wherein the first switch is disposed between the inductor and the first capacitor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch, wherein the first switch is disposed between the inductor and the first capacitor, and wherein the third switch is disposed between the output node and the inductor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, further comprising a third capacitor, wherein in the second configuration, the switch matrix is configured to cause the third capacitor to be in a series relationship with the first capacitor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The voltage regulator of claim 10, wherein in the first configuration, the switch matrix is configured to couple the third capacitor to the output node in parallel with the second capacitor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The voltage regulator of claim 10, wherein in the first configuration, the switch matrix is configured to cause the third capacitor to be coupled to the first capacitor in parallel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the inductor has an inductance in the range of 1-100 nH. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The voltage regulator of claim 13, wherein the inductor is on-chip or on-package. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the inductor has an inductance in the range of 100 nH-10 uH. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The voltage regulator of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to operate in a reverse direction in which the output node in the voltage regulator is coupled to an input voltage source and the input node of the voltage regulator is coupled to a target load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The voltage regulator of claim 16, wherein the voltage regulator is operated as a step-up regulator. ### Claim 18 A voltage regulator, configured to receive an input voltage at an input node and to provide an output voltage at an output node, comprising: an inductor; a first capacitor; a second capacitor; a switch matrix that is configured to alternate between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the switch matrix is configured to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in a parallel relationship through the inductor, and wherein, in the second configuration, the switch matrix is configured to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in a series relationship between the input node and a ground node; a plurality of power switches configured to induce a current through the inductor to provide a voltage differential between the first capacitor and the second capacitor in the first configuration, wherein the plurality of switches are configured to alternate between a first state and a second state in the first configuration to provide the voltage differential between the first capacitor and the second capacitor; and a third capacitor, wherein in the second configuration, the switch matrix is configured to cause the third capacitor to be in a series relationship with the first capacitor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power switches are off in the second configuration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the plurality of switches alternate between the first state and the second state at a predetermined duty cycle, and wherein the voltage differential is based on the predetermined duty cycle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein, in the first configuration, the inductor and the first capacitor are in a series relationship, and the inductor and the first capacitor are collectively in a parallel relationship with the second capacitor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are switching capacitors that are, in the first configuration, at a same layer of a stack of capacitors coupling the input node and the ground node. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch and a second switch, and wherein, in the first state, the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel through the inductor, and in the second state, the first switch is turned off and the second switch is turned on to de-couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch and a second switch, and wherein the first switch is disposed between the output node and the inductor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch and a second switch, and wherein the first switch is disposed between the inductor and the first capacitor. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power switches comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch, wherein the first switch is disposed between the inductor and the first capacitor, and wherein the third switch is disposed between the output node and the inductor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein in the first configuration, the switch matrix is configured to couple the third capacitor to the output node in parallel with the second capacitor. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein in the first configuration, the switch matrix is configured to cause the third capacitor to be coupled to the first capacitor in parallel. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the inductor has an inductance in the range of 1-100 nH. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The voltage regulator of claim 29, wherein the inductor is on-chip or on-package. ### Claim 31 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the inductor has an inductance in the range of 100 nH-10 uH. ### Claim 32 (depends on 18) The voltage regulator of claim 18, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to operate in a reverse direction in which the output node in the voltage regulator is coupled to an input voltage source and the input node of the voltage regulator is coupled to a target load. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The voltage regulator of claim 32, wherein the voltage regulator is operated as a step-up regulator.