# US 12,003,173 B2 · Direct current-to-direct current conversion system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,173 B2 - Document ID: US12003173B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/522,455 - Filed: 2021-11-09 - Published: 2023-05-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-09 - Assignees: Qorvo US, Inc. - Applicants: Qorvo US, Inc. - Inventors: Nadim Khlat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003173B2 ## CPC - 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 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - 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) ## Abstract A direct current-to-direct current conversion system is disclosed having a switch network configured to respond to control signals to selectably couple a first capacitor and a second capacitor between an input, a first output, and a second output. Also included is a switch controller configured to signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first output and a fixed voltage node and signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first output and the input. The switch controller is further configured to signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel between the first output and the second output and signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor between the second output and the fixed voltage node. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) conversion system comprising: a switch network configured to respond to control signals to selectably couple a first capacitor and a second capacitor between a voltage input, a first voltage output, and a second voltage output; a switch controller configured to: signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and a fixed voltage node; signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and the voltage input; signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel between the first voltage output and the second voltage output; and signal the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor between the second voltage output and the fixed voltage node; and a first loop controller that is configured to adjust a voltage level of an input voltage at the voltage input to achieve a desired output voltage level of a first output voltage at the first voltage output; and a second loop controller that is configured to adjust a voltage level of an input voltage at the voltage input to achieve a desired output voltage level of a second output voltage at the second voltage output. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the signal to the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and the fixed voltage node is generated by the switch controller in a first phase. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the signal to the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and the voltage input is generated by the switch controller in a second phase. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the signal to the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel between the first voltage output and the second voltage output is generated by the switch controller in a third phase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the signal to the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor between the second voltage output and the fixed voltage node is generated by the switch controller in a fourth phase. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the fixed voltage node is ground. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the first loop controller is configured to maintain a constant ratio between the input voltage at the voltage input and the first output voltage at the first voltage output. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 wherein the first loop controller is configured to maintain a constant ratio between the input voltage at the voltage input and the second output voltage at the second voltage output. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The DC-DC conversion system of claim 1 further comprising an inductor coupled between the second voltage output and a third capacitor coupled to the fixed voltage node. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling a direct current-to-direct current (DC-DC) conversion system having a switch network configured to respond to control signals to selectably couple a first capacitor and a second capacitor between a voltage input, a first voltage output, and a second voltage output, the method comprising: signaling the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and a fixed voltage node; signaling the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and the voltage input; signaling the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel between the first voltage output and the second voltage output; signaling the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor between the second voltage output and the fixed voltage node; adjusting by way of a first loop controller a voltage level of an input voltage at the voltage input to achieve a desired output voltage level of a first output voltage at the first voltage output; and adjusting by way of a second loop controller a voltage level of an input voltage at the voltage input to achieve a desired output voltage level of a second output voltage at the second voltage output. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 wherein the signaling of the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and the fixed voltage node is generated in a first phase by a switch controller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 wherein the signaling of the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in series between the first voltage output and the voltage input is generated in a second phase by a switch controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 wherein the signaling of the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor in parallel between the first voltage output and the second voltage output is generated in a third phase by a switch controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 wherein the signaling of the switch network to couple the first capacitor and the second capacitor between the second voltage output and the fixed voltage node is generated in a fourth phase by a switch controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 wherein the fixed voltage node is ground. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 further comprising maintaining by way of the first loop controller a constant ratio between the input voltage at the voltage input and the first output voltage at the first voltage output. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 further comprising maintaining by way of the second loop controller a constant ratio between the input voltage at the voltage input and the second output voltage at the second voltage output. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of controlling the DC-DC conversion system of claim 10 wherein an inductor is coupled between the second voltage output and a third capacitor coupled to the fixed voltage node.