# US 12,113,355 B2 · Control device for a DC-DC converter, DC-DC converter, and method for controlling a DC-DC converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,355 B2 - Document ID: US12113355B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/639,130 - Filed: 2020-08-20 - Published: 2022-10-13 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-30 - Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH - Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH - Inventors: Gholamabas Esteghlal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113355B2 ## CPC - H02J 1/102: being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence) - H02M 3/285: {Single converters with a plurality of output stages connected in parallel (parallel operation of a plurality of converters in DC distribution networks H02J1/10)} - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 1/106: {for load balancing, symmetrisation, or sharing} - H02M 3/1584: {with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel} - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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 The invention relates to a control device (100) for a DC-DC converter (110) having multiple parallel-connected DC-DC converter modules (120_1, . . . , 120_n). The control device measures individual target current values for the DC-DC converter modules so that these are operated with a common degree of utilisation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device (100) for a DC-DC converter (110) comprising a plurality of DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), with different maximum output powers, connected in parallel on an output side, the control device (100) comprising: a first ascertaining unit (130) for ascertaining a total degree of utilization (G_tot) of the DC-DC converter (110) based on output currents (I_i) of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), output voltage (U_i) of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), and respective maximum powers (P_i) of each of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), wherein the respective maximum powers (P_i) of each of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) are a maximum output power the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) are capable of outputting, a plurality of utilization ascertaining units (140_i), wherein each DC-DC transducer module (120_i) is assigned a utilization ascertaining unit (140_i), for ascertaining the degree of utilization (G_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) based on the respective maximum power (P_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) and at least one selected from a group consisting of the output current (I_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) and the output voltage (U_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i), a plurality of utilization equalizing controllers (150_i), wherein each DC-DC transducer module (120_i) is assigned a utilization equalizing controller (150_i), and the utilization equalizing controllers (150_i) are each configured to generate a setpoint current value (Is_i) for the respectively assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) based on the ascertained total degree of utilization (G_tot) as setpoint value and the degree of utilization (G_i) as actual value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a utilization equalizing controller (150_i) is activated based on a difference between the total degree of utilization (G_tot) and the degree of utilization (G_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i), wherein the utilization equalizing controller (150_i) is activated when the difference between the total degree of utilization (G_tot) and the degree of utilization (G_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) is greater than a first predefinable difference value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a utilization equalizing controller (150_i) is deactivated when one of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) exceeds a maximum current of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) owing to operation of the utilization equalizing controller (150_i). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The control device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a utilization equalizing controller (150_i) is activated or deactivated depending on a change in an operating point of the DC-DC converter (110), wherein the utilization equalizing controller (150_i) is activated when the operating point is constant for longer than a first predefinable period, and the utilization equalizing controller (150_i) is deactivated when the operating point is constant for less than a second predefinable period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A DC-DC converter (110), comprising: a plurality of DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), which are configured to convert a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage (U_i), wherein the DC-DC converter (110) comprises a control device (100) as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the degree of utilization of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) is based on a quotient of output power of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i) and the respective maximum power (P_i) of the assigned DC-DC transducer module (120_i). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a difference in magnitude of the respective maximum powers (P_i) of each of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) is based on component tolerances of each of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i). ### Claim 8 A method for controlling a DC-DC converter (110) comprising a plurality of DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) with different maximum output powers, the method comprising the steps of: ascertaining (S210) a total degree of utilization (G_tot) of the DC-DC converter (110) based on output currents (I_i) of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), output voltage (U_i) of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), and respective maximum powers (P_i) of each of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i), wherein the respective maximum powers (P_i) of each of the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) are a maximum output power the DC-DC transducer modules (120_i) are capable of outputting, ascertaining (S220) a degree of utilization (G_i) of a DC-DC transducer module (120_i) based on the respective maximum power (P_i) of the DC-DC transducer module (120_i) and at least one selected from a group consisting of the output current (I_i) of the DC-DC transducer module (120_i) and the output voltage (U_i) of the DC-DC transducer module (120_i), generating (S230) a setpoint current value (Is_i) for the DC-DC transducer module (120_i) based on the ascertained total degree of utilization (G_tot) as setpoint value and the degree of utilization (G_i) as actual value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A computer program product comprising program instructions stored on a machine-readable storage medium, wherein when the program instructions are executed by a computer processor, the program instructions cause the computer processor to execute the method as claimed in claim 8.