Pfm controller for a multi-level converter utilizing flying capacitor voltage monitors
AssigneeSilego Technology, Inc.
InventorKevin Yi Cheng Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an interleaved buck-boost converter. The interleaved buck-boost converter comprises a multi-level direct current (DC) to DC converter (MLDC converter), a flying capacitor monitor, and a voltage-level controller. The MLDC converter includes the IMPM and the IMPM includes the flying capacitor. The flying capacitor monitor is in signal communication with the flying capacitor and the voltage-level controller is in signal communication with the flying capacitor monitor. The flying capacitor monitor compares a flying capacitor voltage of the flying capacitor and switches a state of operation of the MLDC converter if the flying capacitor voltage is less than a first flying capacitor reference voltage.
Claims21
An interleaved buck-boost converter, comprising:
- an input voltage terminal configured to provide an input voltage from a voltage source;
- an output filter including an inductor having an input terminal and an output capacitor for an output voltage;
- a master switching stage including a first flying capacitor;
- a slave switching stage including a second flying capacitor;
- and
- a controller configured during a boost mode of operation to configure the master switching stage into a master magnetizing switching state in which the input terminal is charged to a first multiple of the input voltage responsive to the output voltage being less than a first threshold voltage, and
- wherein the controller is further configured to configure the slave switching stage into a slave de-magnetizing switching state in which the input terminal is charged to a second multiple of the input voltage responsive to a first flying capacitor voltage for the first flying capacitor being less than a second threshold voltage, and
- wherein the second multiple of the input voltage is less than the first multiple of the input voltage.
A control system for controlling an interleaved multi-level pulse frequency modulated (IMPFM) power converter having an input voltage terminal configured to provide an input voltage from a voltage source, wherein the IMPFM is in signal communication with an output filter including an inductor having an input terminal and an output capacitor for an output voltage, the control system comprising:
- a first flying capacitor monitor in signal communication with a first flying capacitor of a first interleaved multi-level power module (IMPM) of a multi-level direct current (DC) to DC converter (MLDC converter) of the IMPFM power converter, wherein the first IMPM is a master switching stage;
- a second flying capacitor monitor in signal communication with a second flying capacitor of a second IMPM of the MLDC converter, wherein the second IMPM is a slave switching stage;
- a controller configured during a boost mode of operation to configure the first IMPM into a master magnetizing switching state in which the input terminal is charged to a first multiple of the input voltage responsive to the output voltage being less than a first threshold voltage, and
- wherein the controller is further configured to configure the second IMPM into a slave de-magnetizing switching state in which the input terminal is charged to a second multiple of the input voltage responsive to a first flying capacitor voltage for the first flying capacitor being less than a second threshold voltage, and
- wherein the second multiple of the input voltage is less than the first multiple of the input voltage.
A method for controlling an interleaved multi-level pulse frequency modulated (IMPFM) power converter, the method comprising:
- monitoring a first flying capacitor voltage of a master switching stage with a first flying capacitor monitor;
- monitoring a second flying capacitor voltage of a slave switching stage with a second flying capacitor monitor;
- configuring the master switching stage into a master magnetizing switching state in which an input terminal is charged to a first multiple of the input voltage responsive to the output voltage being less than a first threshold voltage, wherein the input terminal is part of an output filter having an inductor and output capacitor for producing an output voltage, wherein the output filter is in signal communication with the IMPFM;
- configuring the slave switching stage into a slave de-magnetizing switching state in which the input terminal is charged to a second multiple of the input voltage responsive to a first flying capacitor voltage for the first flying capacitor being less than a second threshold voltage, and
- wherein the second multiple of the input voltage is less than the first multiple of the input voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.