# US 12,224,655 B2 · Multi-input voltage regulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,655 B2 - Document ID: US12224655B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/462,243 - Filed: 2021-08-31 - Published: 2023-03-02 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-31 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: Qualcomm Incorporated - Inventors: Joseph Dale Rutkowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224655B2 ## CPC - H02J 7/855: {with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery} - 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)} - H02J 1/08: Three-wire DC power distribution systems; Systems having more than three wires - H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M 1/0095: {Hybrid converter topologies, e.g. NPC mixed with flying capacitor, thyristor converter mixed with MMC or charge pump mixed with buck} - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02J 2207/20: Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter - H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - H02M 3/1582: {Buck-boost converters (H02M3/1584 takes precedence)} - 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 An apparatus is disclosed for voltage regulation. In example implementations, an apparatus includes a battery subsystem having a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and at least one battery. The apparatus also includes a voltage regulator that is coupled to the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal. The voltage regulator includes multiple switches, an energy storage unit, and control circuitry. The multiple switches include a first switch coupled to the first terminal, a second switch coupled to the second terminal, and a third switch coupled to the third terminal. The energy storage unit is coupled to the multiple switches. The control circuitry is coupled to the multiple switches and is configured to selectively couple the energy storage unit to the first terminal via the first switch, the second terminal via the second switch, or the third terminal via the third switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for voltage regulation, the apparatus comprising: a battery subsystem comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a first battery cell coupled in series with a second battery cell, the first battery cell coupled to the second terminal and the second battery cell coupled to the third terminal; and a voltage regulator coupled to the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal, the voltage regulator comprising: multiple switches comprising a first switch coupled to the first terminal, a second switch coupled to the second terminal, and a third switch coupled to the third terminal; an energy storage unit coupled to the multiple switches; and control circuitry comprising multiple comparators, each comparator having a first input coupled to at least one of three ramp generators and a second input that receives an indication of current related to the energy storage unit, the multiple comparators each having outputs coupled to a finite state machine, the finite state machine further coupled to the multiple switches and configured, based on the output of the comparators, to selectively couple the energy storage unit to: the first terminal via the first switch; the second terminal via the second switch; or the third terminal via the third switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery subsystem is configured to: provide a first voltage level at the first terminal; and provide a second voltage level at the second terminal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second voltage level is approximately twice the first voltage level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a center tap coupled between the first battery cell and the second battery cell, the center tap coupled to the first terminal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery subsystem comprises: voltage adjustment circuitry coupled to at least one of the first battery cell or the second battery cell, the voltage adjustment circuitry coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: at least one of the first battery cell or the second battery cell and the voltage adjustment circuitry are coupled together in series between the second terminal and the third terminal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the voltage adjustment circuitry comprises a charge pump; and the voltage regulator comprises a dual-input, three-level buck converter or a dual-input, three-level buck-boost converter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the voltage adjustment circuitry comprises a capacitive divider; and the voltage regulator comprises a dual-input, three-level buck converter or a dual-input, three-level buck-boost converter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first voltage rail coupled between the first terminal of the battery subsystem and the first switch of the voltage regulator; a second voltage rail coupled between the second terminal of the battery subsystem and the second switch of the voltage regulator; and a ground node coupled between the third terminal of the battery subsystem and the third switch of the voltage regulator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the energy storage unit comprises an inductor; the inductor is coupled between a switching node and an output of the voltage regulator; the voltage regulator comprises a capacitor coupled between the output of the voltage regulator and the ground node; the first switch is coupled between the first voltage rail and the switching node; the second switch is coupled between the second voltage rail and the switching node; and the third switch is coupled between the ground node and the switching node. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: open the second switch and open and close the first switch and the third switch to implement a first bucking operation; open the third switch and open and close the first switch and the second switch to implement a second bucking operation; and open the second switch and the third switch and close the first switch to implement a pass-through mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: operate the first switch and the second switch to buck between a first supply voltage corresponding to the first voltage rail and a second supply voltage corresponding to the second voltage rail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication of the current from the energy storage unit comprises an average current-mode sense current that flows through an inductor of the energy storage unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the voltage regulator comprises a capacitor; and the multiple switches comprise a fourth switch and a fifth switch, the fourth switch coupled between the capacitor and the energy storage unit, the fifth switch comprising: a first switch terminal coupled between the fourth switch and the energy storage unit; and a second switch terminal coupled to ground. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: operate the multiple switches to selectively operate the voltage regulator in one or more buck modes and operate the voltage regulator in at least one boost mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a display screen coupled to the voltage regulator; and a processor operatively coupled to the display screen and configured to present one or more graphical images on the display screen, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to provide power to at least the display screen using the battery subsystem.