# US 12,224,665 B2 · Power conversion system and control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,665 B2 - Document ID: US12224665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/046,977 - Filed: 2022-10-17 - Published: 2024-03-07 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-02 - Assignees: The Trustees of Princeton University; Halo Microelectronics International - Applicants: The Trustees of Princeton University; Halo Microelectronics International - Inventors: Minjie Chen; Songnan Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224665B2 ## CPC - H02M 1/008: {Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators} - H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps} - H02M 1/0043: {Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved (non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586)} - H02M 1/0083: {Converters characterised by their input or output configuration} - 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 power conversion system includes one or more switched capacitor input cells connected between an input dc source and a plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, one or more inductor links connected to the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, and one or more output cells, wherein each output cell is connected to an output load and all of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails through a corresponding inductor link. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power conversion system comprising: one or more switched capacitor converters connected between an input dc source and a plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, wherein in a first part of one switching cycle of one switched capacitor converter of the one or more switched capacitor converters, the input dc source is configured to charge at least one flying capacitor through a first group of switches of the one switched capacitor converter, and in a second part of the switching cycle of the one switched capacitor converter, the at least one flying capacitor is configured to provide power for at least one of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails through a second group of switches of the one switched capacitor converter; one or more inductor links connected to the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails; and one or more output cells, wherein each output cell is connected to an output load and all of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails through a corresponding inductor link. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: one inductor link of the one or more inductor links comprises a plurality of inductors magnetically coupled to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: one inductor link of the one or more inductor links comprises two separate inductors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: switches of the one or more output cells are configured to operate at a frequency not lower than a switching frequency of switches of the switched capacitor converters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: at least one output cell of the one or more output cells is a switched capacitor output cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: the number of phase legs of one output cell is equal to the number of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, and wherein each phase leg of the one or more output cells is coupled to a corresponding rail of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: the number of phase legs of one switched capacitor output cell is less than the number of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, and wherein each phase leg of the one or more output cells is coupled to more than one rail of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more output cells are connected to a same output load. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power conversion system of claim 1, wherein: one switched capacitor converter is connected to a subset of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: configuring one or more switched capacitor converters to generate a plurality of voltage pulses on a plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, wherein in a first part of one switching cycle of one switched capacitor converter of the one or more switched capacitor converters, an input de source is configured to charge at least one flying capacitor through a first group of switches of the one switched capacitor converter, and in a second part of the switching cycle of the one switched capacitor converter, the at least one flying capacitor is configured to provide power for at least one of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails through a second group of switches of the one switched capacitor converter; configuring one or more inductor links to be connected to the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails; and configuring one or more output cells to be connected between the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails and a plurality of load, wherein each output cell is connected to an output load and all of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails through a corresponding inductor link. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: configuring the one or more output cells to operate a switching frequency not lower than a switching frequency of the one or more switched capacitor converters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: configuring one switched capacitor converter to generate a plurality of first voltage pulses on a first voltage rail of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails; and configuring the one switched capacitor converter to generate a plurality of second voltage pulses on a second voltage rail of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails, wherein in a switching cycle of the one switched capacitor converter, a first voltage pulse and a second voltage pulse are separated by a 180-degree phase shift. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: at least one inductor link of the one or more inductor links comprises a plurality of inductors magnetically coupled to each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein: configuring each of the plurality of inductors to be connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of interleaved multilevel voltage rails. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: at least one output cell of the one or more output cells is a switched capacitor output cell. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: one or more input cells connected to an input dc source and one or more interleaved multilevel voltage rails; one or more inductor links connected to the one or more interleaved multilevel voltage rails; and one or more switched capacitor converters, wherein each switched capacitor converter is connected to an output load and all of the one or more interleaved multilevel voltage rails through the one or more inductor links, wherein in a first part of one switching cycle of one switched capacitor converter of the one or more switched capacitor converters, an inductor link is configured to charge at least one flying capacitor through a first group of switches of the one switched capacitor converter, and in a second part of the one switching cycle of the one switched capacitor converter, the at least one flying capacitor is configured to provide power for a corresponding load through a second group of switches of the one switched capacitor converter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the one or more input cells is a first switched capacitor converter; the one or more inductor links is a single inductor; and the one or more switched capacitor converters is a second switched capacitor converter, wherein the single inductor is connected between an output of the first switched capacitor converter and an input of the second switched capacitor converter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the one or more input cells is a first switched capacitor converter; the one or more inductor links comprise a first inductor and a second inductor; and the one or more switched capacitor converters comprise a second switched capacitor converter and a third switched capacitor converter, and wherein the second switched capacitor converter is connected to the first switched capacitor converter through the first inductor, and the third switched capacitor converter is connected to the first switched capacitor converter through the second inductor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the one or more interleaved multilevel voltage rails comprises a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail, and wherein the one or more input cells are configured to generate a plurality of first voltage pulses on the first voltage rail and a plurality of second voltage pulses on the second voltage rail, and wherein in a switching cycle of the one or more input cells, a first voltage pulse and a second voltage pulse are separated by a 180-degree phase shift. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein: the one or more interleaved multilevel voltage rails comprises M voltage rails, and wherein the one or more input cells are configured to generate a plurality of voltage pulses on each voltage rails of the M voltage rails, and wherein in a switching cycle, two adjacent voltage pulse are separated by a (360/M)-degree phase shift.