US 2019/0058385 A1Published application

Hysteretic pulse modulation for charge balance of multi-level power converters

AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated

InventorsOrlando Lazaro, Kevin Scoones, Alvaro Aguilar, Jeffrey Anthony Morroni, Sombuddha Chakraborty

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In described examples of methods and control circuitry to control a multi-level power conversion system, the control circuitry generates PWM signals having a duty cycle to control an output signal. The duty cycle is adjustable in different switching cycles. States of the system's switches are adjustable in one or more intervals within the switching cycles. In response to a voltage across a capacitor of the system being outside a non-zero voltage range, the control circuitry adjusts states of the switches in two intervals to discharge or charge the capacitor in a given switching cycle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A power conversion system to convert an input signal at an input node into an output signal at an output node, the power conversion system comprising:

a converter circuit, including:
a switching circuit connected to a switching node, the switching circuit including switches coupled between the input node and a first internal node, switches coupled between the first internal node and the switching node, switches coupled between the switching node and a second internal node, and switches coupled between the second internal node and a reference voltage node, the switches being coupled to generate a voltage signal at the switching node according to switching control signals;
and
a capacitor connected between the first and second internal nodes of the switching circuit;
an inductor coupled between the switching node and the output node;
and
control circuitry to:
generate the switching control signals as pulse width modulated signals having a duty cycle to control the output signal, the duty cycle being adjustable in different switching cycles, and states of the switches being adjustable in one or more intervals within the switching cycles;
and
in response to a voltage across the capacitor being outside a non-zero voltage range, adjust states of the switches in two intervals to discharge or charge the capacitor in a given switching cycle.

7 more elements

A control circuit to control a multi-level power conversion system, the control circuit comprising:

a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit to generate switching control signals having a duty cycle to operate switches to control a voltage signal at a switching node, the switches coupled between an input voltage and a first node, between the first node and the switching node, between the switching node and a second node, and between the second node and a reference voltage, the duty cycle being adjustable in different switching cycles, and states of the switches being adjustable in one or more intervals within the switching cycles;
an output control circuit to generate a duty cycle signal to control the duty cycle according to a feedback signal, to regulate an output signal at an output node that is coupled to the switching node;
and
a state control circuit coupled with the PWM circuit to adjust states of the switches in two intervals to discharge or charge a capacitor of the power conversion system that is coupled between the first node and the second node in a given switching cycle, in response to a voltage across the capacitor being outside a non-zero voltage range.

1 more element

A method of controlling a multi-level power conversion system, the method comprising:

generating pulse width modulated signals having a duty cycle to operate switches to convert an input signal at an input node into an output signal at an output node, the switches coupled between the input signal and a first node, between the first node and a switching node, between the switching node and a second node, and between the second node and a reference voltage, the duty cycle being adjustable in different switching cycles, and states of the switches being adjustable in one or more intervals within the switching cycles;
controlling the duty cycle according to a feedback signal in a given switching cycle to regulate the output signal;
and
in response to a voltage across a capacitor of the power conversion system that is coupled between the first node and the second node being outside a non-zero voltage range, adjusting states of the switches in two intervals to discharge or charge the capacitor in the given switching cycle.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/858,640Filed 29 Dec 2017
Priority: 15 Aug 2017
Published: 21 Feb 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H02M 3/158
With automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices…
H02M 7/4837
Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels: flying capacitor converters
H02M 1/14
Details of apparatus for conversion: arrangements for reducing ripples from DC input or output
H02M 3/07
Using resistors or capacitors, e.g. potential divider: using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control…