Hybrid switched capacitor converters with real-time control of switching state duration, and associated methods
AssigneeTrustees of Dartmouth College
InventorsJan S. Rentmeister, Jason T. Stauth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling a hybrid switched capacitor (SC) converter includes (a) generating control signals for controlling switching devices of the hybrid SC converter, in a manner which regulates one or more parameters of the hybrid SC converter, (b) detecting flying capacitor voltage imbalance in the hybrid SC converter, and (c) in response to detecting flying capacitor voltage imbalance in the hybrid SC converter, generating the control signals in a manner which varies switching state duration of the hybrid SC converter, to move flying capacitor voltage towards balance.
Claims6
A method for controlling a hybrid switched capacitor (SC) converter having a plurality of flying capacitors, comprising:
- generating control signals for controlling a switching state of switching devices of the hybrid SC converter, in a manner which regulates one or more parameters of the hybrid SC converter;
- detecting flying capacitor voltage imbalance in the hybrid SC converter by comparing (a) a signal that is a function of voltage across a flying capacitor of the plurality of flying capacitors of the hybrid SC converter and (b) a reference signal, wherein a value of the reference signal is determined in part by a configuration of the plurality of flying capacitors;
- and
- generating subsequent control signals in a manner in which the switching state is terminated upon detection of flying capacitor imbalance and advancing to a next switching state to move flying capacitor voltage towards balance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.