Boost converter and method of controlling a boost converter

A boost converter comprising:

• a DC input;
• a boost inductor and a boost switch connected to the DC input, with a node defined between them;
• an output capacitor;
• a pre-charging switch connected between the node and the output capacitor, adapted to be conductive to charge the output capacitors from the node in a pre-charge phase, characterized in that:
• the pre-charging switch comprises a body diode in the forward direction from the output capacitor to the node;
• the boost converter further comprises a third switch in series with the pre-charging switch, having a source terminal connected to the output capacitor, and having a body diode in a forward direction from the node to the output capacitor, wherein the boost switch and the third switch each comprises a GaN switch and the pre-charging switch comprising a silicon MOSFET;
• in a pre-charge phase, both the boost switch and third switch are turned off, and the pre-charging switch is operated in a PWM manner to charge the output capacitor, and the body diode of the third switch is adapted to allow a current from the input to the output capacitor when the pre-charging switch is turned on and to block the reverse current from the output capacitor through the body diode of the pre-charging switch when the pre-charging switch is turned off;
• and
• in a boost phase after the pre-charge phase, the pre-charging switch is turned constantly on and the boost switch and the third switch are turned on and off oppositely to implement the boost conversion.