Digital Switched-Capacitor DC-DC Converter With Pin-Efficient Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DC-DC converters face challenges in achieving high efficiency without using inductors, often requiring additional pins and suffering from poor efficiency when capacitors are used instead.
Innovation Solution
A switched-capacitor DC-DC converter system that employs a switch array circuit, capacitors, a comparator, counter circuit, digital control logic, and phase generator to achieve high efficiency by generating clock phase signals and control settings, minimizing analog circuit blocks and increasing input power supply current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an inductor is used in the DC-DC converter to achieve high efficiency, then power supply efficiency is improved, but the device requires extra pins and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the inductor component from the DC-DC converter system, replacing it with a switched-capacitor topology that uses only capacitors and switches. This eliminates the need for inductor-related pins and external components while maintaining high efficiency through digital control of the capacitor switching network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional inductor-based magnetic energy storage mechanism with a capacitor-based electric field energy storage mechanism. The switched-capacitor circuit uses digital logic control to switch capacitors in and out of the circuit, substituting the magnetic field dynamics of an inductor with electric field dynamics and digital switching control
2Device complexity
If capacitors are used instead of inductors in the DC-DC converter, then device complexity and pin count are reduced, but power supply efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control through a digital logic circuit that dynamically adjusts the switching sequence and timing of the capacitor array based on input voltage, output voltage, and load conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the switched-capacitor converter to maintain high efficiency across varying operating conditions, overcoming the static limitations of traditional capacitor-based converters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by monitoring the output voltage and using a digital logic circuit to adjust the switching control signals accordingly. The feedback mechanism compares the actual output voltage with the desired output voltage and modifies the capacitor switching pattern to maintain regulation, ensuring high efficiency and stable performance under varying loads
3Measurement precision
If more analog circuit blocks are used for control, then voltage regulation precision is improved, but input power supply current increases and efficiency reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional analog control circuits with a digital logic circuit that uses digital comparators, counters, and logic gates to perform voltage regulation control. This substitution reduces the quiescent current consumption associated with analog operational amplifiers and voltage references while maintaining precise voltage regulation through digital decision-making logic
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter domain from analog continuous voltages to digital discrete levels. The digital logic circuit operates with defined logic high and logic low levels, making control decisions based on digital threshold comparisons. This parameter change reduces the power consumption of the control circuit while maintaining adequate voltage regulation precision for most applications
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 achieves high efficiency without inductors, reducing the need for extra pins and improving power supply efficiency by digitally controlling the switch array circuit and capacitor array to regulate output voltage.
Implementation Method 1
a first capacitor to an input voltage, a second capacitor coupled to the first capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
A switched-capacitor DC-DC converter circuit may convert an input voltage into a desired output voltage level. A comparator may compare a desired voltage level to a divided version of the output voltage. A fully digital control circuit comprising a frequency divider circuit, a counter circuit, a digital control logic circuit and a gain selection circuit may generate a gain value, and a phase generator may convert the gain value into clock phase signals and control settings to control a switch array to select capacitors to produce a desired output voltage.