Buck-Store Boost-Restore Converter Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional DC-DC converters experience prolonged switching times and high energy losses when transitioning from high to low supply voltages, leading to inefficient energy transfer and delayed circuit driving.
Innovation Solution
A buck-store and boost-restore converter system that stores excess energy during voltage reduction and reuses it during voltage increase, utilizing an inductance element and switch control to manage energy transfer between capacitive loads, thereby reducing power loss and enhancing switching speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an additional grounding path is provided to transfer excess energy to ground, then the switching time from high supply voltage to low supply voltage is shortened, but the energy transferred to ground is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a capacitor as an intermediary energy storage element between the DC-DC converter and the load. This capacitor temporarily stores excess energy during voltage transitions instead of dissipating it to ground, and then releases this stored energy when needed, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining fast switching response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers excess energy that would otherwise be discarded to ground during voltage transitions. By using the capacitor to store this excess energy during high-to-low voltage transitions and then releasing it during low-to-high transitions, the system recovers and reuses energy that would normally be wasted, directly addressing the energy loss problem.
2Loss of energy
If the output voltage is switched from high supply voltage to low supply voltage, then the energy transfer efficiency improves, but the switching time becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor is pre-charged to the high voltage level before the DC-DC converter switches to low voltage mode. This preliminary energy storage in the capacitor allows the system to immediately supply power at the required level without waiting for the converter to complete its slow transition, thereby achieving fast switching response while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor acts as an intermediary that decouples the slow energy transfer process of the DC-DC converter from the fast switching requirements of the load. During voltage transitions, the capacitor provides immediate energy response while the converter operates at its efficient but slower pace, resolving the contradiction between switching speed and energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces power loss and increases switching speed by efficiently storing and reusing energy, allowing for rapid voltage adjustments and lower energy consumption from the power source.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an inductance element and switch control to manage energy transfer between capacitive loads
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes: a first converter for receiving a pre-stage input DC voltage from a power source, and providing a pre-stage output DC voltage including a first DC voltage or a second DC voltage; a modulator the modulator controlling the first converter; a second converter, coupled to the first converter; and a controller, the controller controlling an operation mode of the second converter and notifying the modulator about the operation mode of the second converter. The modulator and the controller receive an external voltage indication signal indicating whether the pre-stage output DC voltage is the first DC voltage or the second DC voltage. The modulator controls the first converter to output the pre-stage output DC voltage based on the voltage indication signal. The modulator notifies the controller about whether the pre-stage output DC voltage reaches a target level.