Resonant Switched Capacitor DC/DC Converter for Soft Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LLC resonant DC/DC converters for power supplies, used in applications like AI and data centers, face challenges with large size due to transformers, leading to increased power consumption and decreased efficiency when higher switching frequencies are employed to reduce size.
Innovation Solution
A resonant switched capacitor DC/DC converter design that omits transformers, utilizing an LC series circuit with a first inductor and capacitor connected in series between resonant switched capacitor groups, ensuring soft switching and reducing power consumption by complete discharging of junction capacitors, thereby improving efficiency and reducing converter size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transformer is used in the LLC resonant DC/DC converter, then the converter can achieve voltage conversion and isolation, but the converter size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the transformer component from the traditional LLC resonant DC/DC converter topology. By eliminating the transformer, the converter achieves voltage conversion through a different mechanism (resonant switched capacitor network), thereby significantly reducing the converter size while maintaining voltage conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the magnetic field-based transformer mechanism with an electric field-based resonant switched capacitor mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for magnetic cores and windings, directly reducing the physical size of the converter while achieving the same voltage conversion function.
2Volume of stationary object
If the switching frequency is increased to reduce converter size, then the converter size decreases, but power consumption increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resonant switching based on periodic oscillation at the resonant frequency of the LC network. By operating at or near the resonant frequency, the switches turn on and off when current or voltage is naturally zero or at minimum, minimizing switching losses and improving efficiency while maintaining a compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by utilizing resonant frequency operation instead of traditional high-frequency switching. This parameter change allows the converter to achieve compact size through resonant operation while maintaining low power consumption and high efficiency by operating at the natural resonant frequency of the circuit.
3Volume of stationary object
If the switching frequency is increased to reduce converter size, then the converter size decreases, but power supply efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resonant switching based on periodic oscillation at the resonant frequency of the LC network. By operating at or near the resonant frequency, the switches turn on and off when current or voltage is naturally zero or at minimum, minimizing switching losses and improving efficiency while maintaining a compact size.
4Reliability
If a transformer is used in the DC/DC converter, then voltage conversion can be achieved, but the converter becomes difficult to thin and miniaturize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the transformer component from the traditional LLC resonant DC/DC converter topology. By eliminating the transformer, the converter achieves voltage conversion through a different mechanism (resonant switched capacitor network), thereby significantly reducing the converter size while maintaining voltage conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by utilizing resonant frequency operation instead of traditional high-frequency switching. This parameter change allows the converter to achieve compact size through resonant operation while maintaining low power consumption and high efficiency by operating at the natural resonant frequency of the circuit.
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 achieves reduced converter size and enhanced power conversion efficiency by implementing soft switching, minimizing power consumption and circuit area, while allowing for flexible voltage conversion ratios without the need for transformers.
Implementation Method 1
The resonant circuit includes at least a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor. Generally, a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor are connected in series to form a series resonant circuit.
Implementation Method 2
The first capacitor in the LC series circuit functions to isolate a direct current and balance a voltage, to avoid that the first inductor cannot properly operate due to magnetic saturation in an operation process of charging and discharging.
Implementation Method 3
The resonant inductor in each resonant switched capacitor group functions to reduce current impact of a charging and discharging current on the resonant capacitor, reduce impact of the charging and discharging current on the switch
Data Source
AI summary
A resonant switched capacitor direct current/direct current converter includes N resonant switched capacitor groups, M capacitors, and at least one LC series circuit, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and M is an integer less than or equal to N. Each resonant switched capacitor group includes switches and a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit includes a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor. The LC series circuit, namely, a circuit including an inductor and a capacitor that are connected in series, is connected between any two resonant switched capacitor groups. At the moment when the switch is turned off, the resonant inductor is not sufficient to implement complete discharging of a junction capacitor of the switch. The inductor is added, to implement complete discharging of the junction capacitor of the switch, that is, to remove a current, so that the switch implements soft switching.