Power converter apparatus having instantaneous commutation switching system

A switching power converter having an output and an input which receives an input power source, the converter comprising:

• an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the output is coupled to the second terminal;
• a capacitor which couples the second terminal of the inductor to ground;
• a first MOSFET having a drain, a source, a gate, and a substrate, wherein the drain is coupled to the input, the source is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, and the substrate is connected to the source;
• a second MOSFET having a drain, a source, a gate, and a substrate, wherein the drain is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, the source is coupled to ground, and the substrate is connected to the source;
• a pulsed signal source, responsive to the output, which provides a pulsed signal having a duty cycle based upon the voltage at the output;
• and
• a switch controller, coupled to the pulsed signal source and the second MOSFET, which provides a first control signal to the gate of the first MOSFET and provides a second control signal to the gate of the second MOSFET, wherein the first control signal turns on the first MOSFET when both the pulsed signal is at a first logical level and the voltage at the gate of the second MOSFET is less than a first predetermined threshold.

A switching power converter having an output and an input which receives an input power source, the converter comprising:

• an inductor having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the output is coupled to the second terminal;
• a capacitor which couples the second terminal of the inductor to ground;
• a first MOSFET having a drain, a source, a gate, and a substrate, wherein the drain is coupled to the input, the source is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, and the substrate is connected to the source;
• a second MOSFET having a drain, a source, a gate, and a substrate, wherein the drain is coupled to the first terminal of the inductor, the source is coupled to ground, and the substrate is connected to the source;
• a pulsed signal source, responsive to the output, which provides a pulsed signal having a duty cycle based upon the voltage at the output;
• and
• a switch controller, coupled to the pulsed signal source and the second MOSFET, which provides a first control signal to the gate of the first MOSFET and provides a second control signal to the gate of the second MOSFET, wherein the first control signal turns on the first MOSFET when both the pulsed signal is at a first logical level and the voltage at the gate of the second MOSFET is less than a first predetermined threshold, and the first control signal turns the first MOSFET off when the pulsed signal transitions to a second logical level, wherein the second control signal turns on the second MOSFET when both the pulsed signal is at the second logical level and the voltage at drain of the second MOSFET is less than a second predetermined threshold, and the second control signal turns the second MOSFET off when the pulsed signal transitions to the first logical level.