Time sharing inductor in DC-DC converter

Abstract

A DC-DC converter is disclosed. The converter comprises a voltage source; a single inductor coupled to the voltage source; and a first switch coupled to the single inductor and the voltage source. The converter further comprises a plurality of switch capacitor mechanisms, each of the plurality of switch capacitor mechanisms coupled to the voltage source, first switch and inductor. There are two phases of operation of the converter. During first phase the first switch is on and the plurality of capacitor switch mechanisms are inactive to charge the inductor. During a second phase one of the capacitor switch mechanisms is active causing the capacitor switch mechanism to act as a power supply. Each of the capacitor switch mechanisms can be alternately active to provide a plurality of voltage levels. A scheme in accordance with the present invention allows for a converter which provides multiple voltages that share a single inductor and therefore, significantly minimizes cost.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.