# US 2021/0175801 A1 · Implicit On-Time Regulated Hybrid Converter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0175801 A1 - Document ID: US20210175801A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/705,171 - Filed: 2019-12-05 - Published: 2021-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-05 - Assignees: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited - Applicants: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited - Inventors: Mihail Jefremow; Simon Stark; Holger Petersen; Fabio Rigoni; Stephan Drebinger; Alessandro Angeli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210175801A1 ## CPC - H02M 1/0095: {Hybrid converter topologies, e.g. NPC mixed with flying capacitor, thyristor converter mixed with MMC or charge pump mixed with buck} - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 1/0064: {Magnetic structures combining different functions, e.g. storage, filtering or transformation} - H02M 7/4837: {Flying capacitor converters} - H02M 1/0003: {Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits} - H02M 1/0048: {Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses (using snubbers H02M1/34)} - H02M 1/0058: {by employing soft switching techniques, i.e. commutation of transistors when applied voltage is zero or when current flow is zero (using an auxiliary actively switched resonant commutation circuit connected to an intermediate DC voltage or between two push-pull branches of an inverter bridge H02M7/4811; in resonant inverters H02M7/4815; in inverters operating from a resonant DC source H02M7/4826)} - H02M 7/4833: {Capacitor voltage balancing} - H02M 7/4835: {comprising two or more cells, each including a switchable capacitor, the capacitors having a nominal charge voltage which corresponds to a given fraction of the input voltage, and the capacitors being selectively connected in series to determine the instantaneous output voltage} - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A DC/DC power converter and a method to convert an input voltage into an output voltage are presented. The power converter may have a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, an inductor, and switching elements. It may control the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a first magnetizing current path from the input node, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node. The converter may control the switching elements to interrupt said first magnetizing current path after a pre-determined time interval. The converter may control the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a demagnetizing current path from a reference potential via the inductor to the output node. The converter may control the switching elements such that said demagnetizing current path is interrupted when a current through the inductor reaches a pre-determined threshold current value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 1) A power converter configured to convert an input voltage at an input node into an output voltage at an output node, wherein the power converter comprises a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, an inductor, and switching elements, wherein the power converter is configured to control, in a first magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a first magnetizing current path from the input node, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node, to control, in said first magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements interrupt said first magnetizing current path after a pre-determined time interval, to control, in a demagnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a demagnetizing current path from a reference potential via the inductor to the output node, and to control, in said demagnetizing state, the switching elements such that said demagnetizing current path is interrupted when a current through the inductor reaches a pre-determined threshold current value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 2) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the power converter comprises a first comparator configured to compare the output voltage at the output node with a reference voltage, and wherein the power converter is configured to enter the first magnetizing state based on the comparison. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) 3) The power converter of claim 1, comprising a timer configured to generate a signal upon expiry of said pre-determined time interval, and wherein the power converter is configured to interrupt, in said first magnetizing state, the first magnetizing current based on said signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) 4) The power converter of claim 1, comprising a second comparator configured to compare, in the demagnetizing state, the current through the inductor with said pre-determined threshold current value, and wherein the power converter is configured to interrupt, in the demagnetizing state, the demagnetizing current path based on the comparison. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 5) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the power converter is configured to control, in a second magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a second magnetizing current path from a reference potential, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node, to control, in said second magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements interrupt said second magnetizing current path after said pre-determined time interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) 6) The power converter of claim 5, wherein the power converter is configured to control, in a third magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a third magnetizing current path from a reference potential, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node, to control, in said third magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements interrupt said third magnetizing current path after said pre-determined time interval. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) 7) The power converter of claim 6, wherein the power converter is configured to switch, after the current through the inductor reaches said pre-determined threshold current value in the demagnetizing state, to an idle state, and to control, in said idle state, the switching elements such that no current is flowing through the inductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) 8) The power converter of claim 7, wherein the power converter comprises a first comparator configured to compare the output voltage at the output node with a reference voltage, and wherein the power converter is configured to switch from the idle state to the third magnetizing state based on the comparison. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) 9) The power converter of claim 8, wherein the power converter is configured to switch between the different states according to the following ordered state sequence: the first magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state; the second magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state; the third magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state; the second magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) 10) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the switching elements comprise a first switching element coupled between the input node and a first terminal of the first flying capacitor, a second switching element coupled between a second terminal of the first flying capacitor and first terminal of the second flying capacitor, and a sixth switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, wherein the power converter is configured to establish, in the first magnetizing state, the first magnetizing current path using the first, the second and the sixth switching element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) 11) The power converter of claim 5, wherein the switching elements comprise a fifth switching element coupled between a first terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, and a seventh switching element coupled between a reference potential and a second terminal of the second flying capacitor, wherein the power converter is configured to establish, in the second magnetizing state, the second magnetizing current path using the fifth and the seventh switching element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) 12) The power converter of claim 6, wherein the switching elements comprise a third switching element coupled between a reference potential and a second terminal of the first flying capacitor, a fourth switching element coupled between a first terminal of the first flying capacitor and first terminal of the second flying capacitor, and a sixth switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, wherein the power converter is configured to establish, in the third magnetizing state, the third magnetizing current path using the third, the fourth and the sixth switching element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) 13) The power converter of claim 1, wherein the switching elements comprise a sixth switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, and a seventh switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a reference potential, wherein the power converter is configured to establish, in the demagnetizing state, the demagnetizing current path using the sixth and the seventh switching element. ### Claim 14 14) A method of operating a power converter, wherein the power converter converts an input voltage at an input node into an output voltage at an output node, wherein the power converter comprises a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, an inductor, and switching elements, wherein the method comprises controlling, in a first magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a first magnetizing current path from the input node, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node, controlling, in said first magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements interrupt said first magnetizing current path after a pre-determined time interval, controlling, in a demagnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a demagnetizing current path from a reference potential via the inductor to the output node, and controlling, in said demagnetizing state, the switching elements such that said demagnetizing current path is interrupted when a current through the inductor reaches a pre-determined threshold current value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) 15) The method of claim 14, wherein the power converter comprises a first comparator to compare the output voltage at the output node with a reference voltage, and wherein the method comprises entering the first magnetizing state based on the comparison. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) 16) The method of claim 14, wherein the power converter comprises a timer to generate a signal upon expiry of said pre-determined time interval, and wherein the method comprises interrupting, in said first magnetizing state, the first magnetizing current based on said signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) 17) The method of claim 14, wherein the power converter comprises a second comparator to compare, in the demagnetizing state, the current through the inductor with said pre-determined threshold current value, and wherein the method comprises interrupting, in the demagnetizing state, the demagnetizing current path based on the comparison. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) 18) The method of claim 14, comprising controlling, in a second magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a second magnetizing current path from a reference potential, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node, controlling, in said second magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements interrupt said second magnetizing current path after said pre-determined time interval. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) 19) The method of claim 18, comprising controlling, in a third magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements establish a third magnetizing current path from a reference potential, via the first flying capacitor, via the second flying capacitor, via the inductor, to the output node, controlling, in said third magnetizing state, the switching elements such that the switching elements interrupt said third magnetizing current path after said pre-determined time interval. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) 20) The method of claim 19, comprising switching, after the current through the inductor reaches said pre-determined threshold current value in the demagnetizing state, to an idle state, and controlling, in said idle state, the switching elements such that no current is flowing through the inductor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) 21) The method of claim 20, wherein the power converter comprises a first comparator to compare the output voltage at the output node with a reference voltage, and wherein the method comprises switching from the idle state to the third magnetizing state based on the comparison. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) 22) The method of claim 21, wherein the method comprises switching between the different states according to the following ordered state sequence: the first magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state; the second magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state; the third magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state; the second magnetizing state; the demagnetizing state. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) 23) The method of claim 14, wherein the switching elements comprise a first switching element coupled between the input node and a first terminal of the first flying capacitor, a second switching element coupled between a second terminal of the first flying capacitor and first terminal of the second flying capacitor, and a sixth switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, wherein the method comprises establishing, in the first magnetizing state, the first magnetizing current path by closing the first, the second and the sixth switching element. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) 24) The method of claim 18, wherein the switching elements comprise a fifth switching element coupled between a first terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, and a seventh switching element coupled between a reference potential and a second terminal of the second flying capacitor, wherein the method comprises establishing, in the second magnetizing state, the second magnetizing current path by closing the fifth and the seventh switching element. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) 25) The method of claim 19, wherein the switching elements comprise a third switching element coupled between a reference potential and a second terminal of the first flying capacitor, a fourth switching element coupled between a first terminal of the first flying capacitor and first terminal of the second flying capacitor, and a sixth switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, wherein the method comprises establishing, in the third magnetizing state, the third magnetizing current path by closing the third, the fourth and the sixth switching element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) 26) The method of claim 14, wherein the switching elements comprise a sixth switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, and a seventh switching element coupled between a second terminal of the second flying capacitor and a reference potential, wherein the method comprises establishing, in the demagnetizing state, the demagnetizing current path by closing the sixth and the seventh switching element.