Magnetic-free DC/DC converter and method of operation thereof

A method of providing DC power to a load, comprising the steps of:

• coupling an input capacitor to a source of DC power at an input voltage;
• coupling an output capacitor in parallel with said load;
• and
• driving a first switch coupled in parallel with said input capacitor and a second switch interposed between said input capacitor and said load with complementary control signals as a function of a desired output voltage to provide said DC power.

A computer system, comprising:

• a microprocessor load that requires DC power of a first voltage to be provided thereto;
• dynamic random access memory (DRAM), coupled to said microprocessor, that requires DC power of a second voltage to be provided thereto;
• a central power supply that acts as a central source of DC power for said computer system;
• and
• first and second DC/DC power converters, having DC inputs coupled to said central power supply and DC outputs coupled to said microprocessor and DRAM, respectively, that convert a voltage of said DC power provided by said central power supply to said first and second voltages, respectively, each of said first and second DC/DC power converters including:
• an input capacitor coupled to said DC input thereof,
• a first switch coupled between said input capacitor and said DC output thereof to transfer electrical power from said DC input to said DC output when said first switch is closed,
• an output capacitor coupled in parallel with said DC output,
• a second switch coupled in parallel with said input capacitor to short said input capacitor when said second switch is closed, and
• a switching controller circuit, coupled to said first and second switches, that provides complementary control signals to said first and second switches that are a function of an output voltage of said converter.