# US 12,603,573 B2 · Switch bootstrapping for multi-level inductive power converter

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- Number: US 12,603,573 B2
- Document ID: US12603573B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/628,007
- Filed: 2024-04-05
- Published: 2024-10-24
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2023-04-20
- Assignees: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
- Applicants: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.
- Inventors: Graeme G. Mackay; Jin-Jyh Su; Hasnain Akram; Changjong Lim; Dave Marshnil
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603573B2

## CPC

- H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
- H02M 7/4837: {Flying capacitor converters}
- 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 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
- H02M 3/07: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode {, e.g. charge pumps}
- 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 multi-level power converter configured to receive a power supply and generate an inductor current may include a first switch coupled to a first capacitor, a second switch coupled to a second capacitor, a third switch coupled to a third capacitor, a fourth switch, an inductor coupled to a switch node between the second switch and the third switch, and a flying capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first node between the first and second switch and a second terminal coupled to a second node between the third and fourth switch, wherein the second capacitor is configured to share charge with at least one of the first capacitor and the third capacitor to enable non-gate terminals of at least one of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to replenish with charge at or approximate to a duty cycle extreme of the multi-level power converter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-level power converter configured to receive a power supply and generate an inductor current, the multi-level power converter comprising:
a first switch coupled to a first capacitor;
a second switch coupled to a second capacitor;
a third switch coupled to a third capacitor;
a fourth switch;
an inductor coupled to a switch node between the second switch and the third switch; and
a flying capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first node between the first switch and the second switch and a second terminal coupled to a second node between the third switch and the fourth switch;
wherein the second capacitor is configured to share charge with at least one of the first capacitor and the third capacitor to enable non-gate terminals of at least one of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to replenish with charge at or approximate to a duty cycle extreme of the multi-level power converter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multi-level power converter of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle extreme is a fifty percent duty cycle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The multi-level power converter of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle extreme is a one hundred percent duty cycle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multi-level power converter of claim 1, wherein the duty cycle extreme is a zero percent duty cycle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The multi-level power converter of claim 1, wherein the second capacitor is configured to share charge with the first capacitor and the third capacitor to enable non-gate terminals of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to replenish with charge at or approximate to a duty cycle extreme of the multi-level power converter.

### Claim 6

A method in a multi-level power converter configured to receive a power supply and generate an inductor current, wherein the multi-level power converter comprises a first switch coupled to a first capacitor, a second switch coupled to a second capacitor, a third switch coupled to a third capacitor, a fourth switch, an inductor coupled to a switch node between the second switch and the third switch, and a flying capacitor having a first terminal coupled to a first node between the first switch and the second switch and a second terminal coupled to a second node between the third switch and the fourth switch, the method comprising:
configuring the second capacitor to share charge with at least one of the first capacitor and the third capacitor to enable non-gate terminals of at least one of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to replenish with charge at or approximate to a duty cycle extreme of the multi-level power converter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the duty cycle extreme is a fifty percent duty cycle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the duty cycle extreme is a one hundred percent duty cycle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the duty cycle extreme is a zero percent duty cycle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising configuring the second capacitor to share charge with the first capacitor and the third capacitor to enable non-gate terminals of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch to replenish with charge at or approximate to a duty cycle extreme of the multi-level power converter.