Capacitive Driver Switching Using Non-Dissipative Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for driving capacitive elements between two voltage levels are not energy efficient due to dissipation of energy, and the inclusion of additional elements like inductors introduces extra current and conduction losses, making the systems bulky and costly.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive element driver that uses a non-dissipative element, such as a storage capacitor, to store and transfer energy between two voltage levels by alternatingly turning on and off switches in a sequence of stages, maintaining the average voltage level unchanged over time, thereby minimizing energy loss without the need for expensive or large-sized conductors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional switching methods are used to drive capacitive elements between voltage levels, then the driving function is achieved, but energy is dissipated during transient current flow through switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic switching of multiple switches in a sequence of stages to transfer energy to the capacitive element in discrete steps. Instead of a single transient current pulse, the switching occurs in multiple periodic phases where energy is incrementally transferred through intermediate voltage levels, reducing peak currents and associated losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate voltage levels and intermediate energy transfer stages as mediators between the power source and the capacitive element. Multiple switches are configured to create intermediate nodes that facilitate gradual energy transfer, avoiding direct high-energy transient currents through single switches.
2Loss of energy
If inductors are added to create resonant capacitive element drivers to avoid energy dissipation, then energy efficiency improves, but the system becomes bulky and incurs extra conduction losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inductor from the system entirely, replacing the resonant LC approach with a purely capacitive switching architecture. By removing the inductive element, the system eliminates the bulkiness and conduction losses associated with large inductors while achieving energy efficiency through alternative capacitive energy transfer mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple capacitive elements and switches that replicate and distribute the energy transfer function across multiple parallel paths. Instead of relying on a single inductive resonant path, the system copies the energy storage function across multiple capacitive elements switched in sequence, achieving the same energy transfer goal without inductors.
3Loss of energy
If inductors are added to create resonant capacitive element drivers, then energy dissipation is reduced, but extra current and conduction losses are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of transient currents into a beneficial multi-stage energy transfer process. By intentionally introducing controlled transient currents through multiple switches in sequence, the system distributes the energy transfer burden across multiple low-current events rather than one high-current event, reducing overall conduction losses.
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 solution significantly reduces energy dissipation during capacitive element driving, maintains the average voltage level of non-dissipative elements, and avoids the bulkiness and cost associated with conventional resonant capacitive element driving systems.
Implementation Method 1
A non-dissipative element, such as a storage capacitor, is electrically connected between a common node of the first pair of switches and a common node of the second pair of switches
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit for driving the voltage of a capacitive element between two voltage levels has at least one driver cell with a first pair of switches connected in series between a first terminal of a voltage source and the capacitive element, and a second pair of switches connected in series between a second terminal of the voltage source and the capacitive element. A plurality of non-dissipative elements may be connected in parallel or in series between the first pair of switches and the second pair of switches. Combinations of switches from the driver cells may be activated and deactivated in a defined sequence to provide step-wise transfer of energy to the capacitive element. The defined sequence may have a switching pattern with a voltage change portion arranged to cause a change in an output voltage of the capacitive element driver during application thereof on the capacitive element driver.