Resonant rectified discontinuous switching regulator with inductor preflux

An electronic power conversion component comprising:

• a substrate having a plurality of contacts for forming electrical connections to a circuit board;
• one or more integrated circuit dies attached to the substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of contacts;
• a power conversion circuit disposed on one of the one or more integrated circuit dies, the power conversion circuit comprising:
• a first terminal;
• a first solid-state switch having a pair of first switch terminals and a first control terminal, the pair of first switch terminals connected between the first terminal and a first junction;
• a second solid-state switch having a pair of second switch terminals and a second control terminal, the pair of second switch terminals connected between the first junction and a second junction;
• a third solid-state switch having a pair of third switch terminals and a third control terminal, the pair of third switch terminals connected between the second junction and a third junction;
• a fourth solid-state switch having a pair of fourth switch terminals and a fourth control terminal, the pair of fourth switch terminals connected between the third junction and a ground;
• a capacitor coupled between the first junction and the third junction, and an inductor coupled between the second junction and a load;
• and
• a controller transmitting first, second, third and fourth control signals to control the first, second, third and fourth solid-state switches through the first, second, third and fourth control terminals, respectively, such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) generating a first preflux condition in the inductor and charging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor and (2) generating a second preflux condition in the inductor and discharging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor.

A method of operating a power conversion circuit, the method comprising:

• supplying power to the power conversion circuit with a power supply connected to a first terminal, the power conversion circuit comprising:
• a first solid-state switch having a pair of first switch terminals and a first control terminal, the pair of first switch terminals connected between the first terminal and a first junction;
• a second solid-state switch having a pair of second switch terminals and a second control terminal, the pair of second switch terminals connected between the first junction and a second junction;
• a third solid-state switch having a pair of third switch terminals and a third control terminal, the pair of third switch terminals connected between the second junction and a third junction;
• a fourth solid-state switch having a pair of fourth switch terminals and a fourth control terminal, the pair of fourth switch terminals connected between the third junction and a ground;
• a capacitor coupled between the first junction and the third junction, and an inductor coupled between the second junction and a load;
• and
• changing the configuration of the first, the second, the third and the fourth solid-state switches, such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) generating a first preflux condition in the inductor and charging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor and (2) generating a second preflux condition in the inductor and discharging the capacitor causing an increase in current flow in the inductor.