Switched-Capacitor Converter Power Loss Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Switched-capacitor power converters face challenges in actively controlling power loss as the operating point changes, requiring a method to balance conduction and switching losses that vary with output current and input voltage.
Innovation Solution
A system with a controller that adjusts the gate drive signals for switched-capacitor blocks, using measured power loss and PID control to minimize overall power loss, by determining optimal gate drive voltage based on input voltage and output current, and employing a parameterization model to estimate and control power loss components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the gate drive voltage is adjusted to minimize power loss, then power loss is reduced, but the optimal voltage varies with operating point changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by measuring the actual power loss and using this information to adjust the gate drive voltage. The controller receives feedback about the operating point (output current and input voltage) and the measured power loss, then determines the optimal gate drive voltage to minimize power loss, ensuring continuous adaptation to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-optimization by automatically adjusting its own gate drive voltage based on measured power loss and operating conditions. The controller determines the optimal gate drive voltage using the measured power loss as input, allowing the power converter to self-regulate and maintain minimum power loss without external intervention.
2Device complexity
If fixed gate drive voltage is used to simplify control, then control complexity is reduced, but power loss cannot be minimized across varying operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to manage the complexity of optimizing power loss across varying operating conditions. By measuring power loss and using this feedback to adjust the gate drive voltage, the system achieves minimum power loss without requiring complex manual tuning or multiple fixed voltage modes, as the feedback loop automatically adapts to changing conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system that implements a switched-capacitor power converter which is configured to actively control power loss while converting an input voltage to an output voltage. This system includes one or more switched-capacitor blocks (SCBs), wherein each SCB includes a first capacitor and a set of switching devices configured to couple a constant-potential terminal and a time-varying-potential terminal of the first capacitor between the input voltage, the output voltage and a reference voltage. The system also includes a clocking circuit which produces gate drive signals for switching transistors in the one or more SCBs. The system additionally includes a controller configured to actively control the gate drive signals from the clocking circuit to substantially minimize the power loss for the switched-capacitor power converter.