Configurable control for two-level and three-level buck converters
AssigneeRenesas Electronics America Inc.
InventorsKee Ho Shin, Phillip Marc Johnson, Sungkeun Lim, Yen-Mo Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses, devices, and methods for operating a voltage converter are described. A semiconductor device can include a switching circuit and a controller. The switching circuit can include a plurality of switching elements. The controller can determine an operation mode of the switching circuit. In response to the operation mode indicating a two-level operation mode, the controller can program the switching circuit to operate as a two-level voltage converter. In response to the operation mode indicating a three-level operation mode, the controller can program the switching circuit to operate as a three-level converter.
Claims17
A semiconductor device comprising:
- a switching circuit including a plurality of switching elements;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- obtain a resistance value from an input pin of the controller;
- read a register value;
- compare the resistance value with the register value to determine an operation mode of the switching circuit;
- in response to the operation mode indicating a two-level operation mode, program the switching circuit to operate as a two-level voltage converter;
- and
- in response to the operation mode indicating a three-level operation mode, program the switching circuit to operate as a three-level voltage converter.
A semiconductor device comprising:
- a modulator configured to generate a plurality of control signals to operate a switching circuit;
- a flying capacitor balancer configured to control a flying capacitor voltage of a flying capacitor connected to the switching circuit;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- obtain a resistance value from an input pin of the controller;
- read a register value;
- compare the resistance value with the register value to determine an operation mode of the switching circuit;
- in response to the operation mode indicating a two-level operation mode, program the modulator to generate a first set of control signals for operating the switching circuit as a two-level voltage converter;
- and
- in response to the operation mode indicating a three-level operation mode:
- connect the flying capacitor balancer to the modulator to control the flying capacitor voltage of the flying capacitor;
- and
- program the modulator to generate a second set of control signals for operating the switching circuit as a three-level voltage converter.
A method for programming a voltage converter, the method comprising:
- obtaining a resistance value from an input pin;
- reading a register value;
- comparing the resistance value with the register value to determine an operation mode of a switching circuit;
- determining the operation mode of the switching circuit indicates a two-level operation mode;
- in response to the operation mode indicating the two-level operation mode, programming the switching circuit to operate as a two-level voltage converter;
- determining the operation mode of the switching circuit indicates a three-level operation mode;
- and
- in response to the operation mode indicating the three-level operation mode, programming the switching circuit to operate as a three-level voltage converter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.