Low-power mode for multi-level converter

A method comprising, in a multi-level power converter comprising a plurality of switches and a power inductor electrically coupled to the plurality of switches, wherein the power inductor is coupled to a switching node of the multi-level power converter, wherein the multi-level power converter is capable of applying three or more switching voltages to the switching node:

• generating control signals that define a sequence of switching of the plurality of switches of the multi-level power converter;
• during a switching cycle of the multi-level power converter in which the power inductor is magnetized and demagnetized, controlling switching of the plurality of switches among at least three switch configurations during magnetization and demagnetization of the power inductor such that a voltage on the switching node experiences a different respective magnitude of voltage in each of the at least three switch configurations;
• and
• while operating in a discontinuous mode or pulse-frequency modulation mode of operation, converting a target magnitude for current through the power inductor into a duty cycle for switching of the multi-level power converter based on durations of time between pulses of an input voltage and output voltage.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions for, in a multi-level power converter comprising a plurality of switches and a power inductor electrically coupled to the plurality of switches, wherein the power inductor is coupled to a switching node of the multi-level power converter, wherein the multi-level power converter is capable of applying three or more switching voltages to the switching node:
• generating control signals that define a sequence of switching of the plurality of switches of the multi-level power converter;
• during a switching cycle of the multi-level power converter in which the power inductor is magnetized and demagnetized, controlling switching of the plurality of switches among at least three switch configurations during magnetization and demagnetization of the power inductor such that a voltage on the switching node experiences a different respective magnitude of voltage in each of the at least three switch configurations;
• and
• while operating in a discontinuous conduction mode or pulse-frequency modulation mode of operation, converting a target magnitude for current through the power inductor into a duty cycle for switching of the multi-level power converter based on durations of time between pulses of an input voltage and output voltage.