US 2021/0242771 A1 · MULTI-MODE DC-TO-DC POWER CONVERTER

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for implementing a multi-mode direct-current (DC)-to-DC power converter. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a DC-to-DC power converter with a flying capacitor, an inductor, and four switches. The inductor is coupled between a second node and a battery node. A first switch is coupled between a first node and a first terminal of the flying capacitor. A second switch is coupled between the first terminal and the second node. A third switch is coupled between a second terminal of the flying capacitor and the second node. A fourth switch is coupled between the second terminal and a ground node. The DC-to-DC power converter is configured to selectively transfer power from the first node to the battery node according to a first operational mode and transfer other power from the battery node to the first node according to a second operational mode.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a direct-current (DC)-to-DC power converter comprising:
a first node, a second node, a battery node, and a ground node;
a flying capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal;
an inductor coupled between the second node and the battery node;
a first switch coupled between the first node and the first terminal of the flying capacitor;
a second switch coupled between the first terminal of the flying capacitor and the second node;
a third switch coupled between the second terminal of the flying capacitor and the second node;
and
a fourth switch coupled between the second terminal of the flying capacitor and the ground node,
the DC-to-DC power converter configured to selectively:
transfer power from the first node to the battery node according to a first operational mode;
and
transfer other power from the battery node to the first node according to a second operational mode.

10 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

a first node configured to selectively couple to a power source or an external load;
a battery node configured to be coupled to a battery;
and
direct-current (DC)-to-DC power conversion means for selectively operating as a three-level buck converter to transfer power from the first node to the battery node and as a two-level boost converter to transfer other power from the battery node to the first node.

1 more element

An apparatus comprising:

a first power path configured to be connected to a power source;
a second power path configured to be connected to an external load;
a battery;
a switching circuit coupled between the first power path, the second power path, and a first node, the switching circuit configured to selectively:
connect the first node to the first power path;
and
connect the first node to the second power path;
and
a direct-current (DC)-to-DC power converter comprising:
the first node;
and
a battery node coupled to the battery,
the DC-to-DC power converter configured to selectively:
operate as a three-level buck converter to transfer power from the first power path to the battery according to a first operational mode;
and
operate as a two-level boost converter to transfer other power from the battery to the second power path according to a second operational mode.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-mode dc-to-dc power converter

Life of this patent

Multi-mode dc-to-dc power converter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30