Switched-Capacitor Voltage Converter With Negator for High VCR

The patent introduces a negator stage that inverts the input voltage polarity to generate a negative voltage. This inverted voltage is then fed into the switched-capacitor converter, enabling the converter to operate with both positive and negative voltage inputs. This inversion approach allows the system to achieve higher voltage conversion ratios without proportionally increasing the number of converter stages or components, as the negative voltage input effectively doubles the voltage differential available for conversion.

The negator stage performs a preliminary action by pre-inverting the input voltage before it enters the main switched-capacitor converter. This preliminary inversion creates a negative voltage that, when combined with the positive voltage through the converter's switching network, achieves higher voltage multiplication in fewer stages. By preparing the voltage polarity in advance, the system avoids the need for multiple cascaded converter stages that would otherwise be required to achieve the same VCR, thereby reducing cumulative power losses from switching and conduction across multiple stages.

The negator stage serves multiple functions: it inverts the input voltage polarity, generates a negative voltage input for the converter, and enables the switched-capacitor network to achieve higher voltage multiplication. This multi-functional approach allows the system to achieve high VCR without proportionally increasing the number of energy-dissipating components. The same switching network and capacitor array that perform voltage conversion also benefit from the expanded voltage differential provided by the negative input, improving efficiency by reducing the number of additional components that would otherwise be needed.