Switched-Capacitor Voltage Converter With Shared Flying Capacitors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional voltage converters require a large number of components and pins, leading to increased costs and complexity, especially when achieving efficient voltage conversion ratios like 4:1, which is essential for modern energy utilization.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates N switched capacitor circuits in series, where each circuit shares power switches and flying capacitors, allowing for efficient voltage conversion by controlling switch states to achieve ratios like 1/2N or 2N, reducing the number of required components and pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional voltage converters use traditional switching power supply circuits to achieve voltage conversion, then voltage conversion function is realized, but the number of components and pins increases leading to higher costs and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple switching power supply circuits into a single integrated circuit that can perform multiple voltage conversions (e.g., first voltage to second voltage, third voltage to fourth voltage) simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the total number of discrete components and pins while maintaining reliable voltage conversion functionality through shared magnetic cores and windings
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit is designed with universal functionality to perform different voltage conversion operations using the same physical components. The magnetic core with multiple windings can operate in different modes (e.g., isolated forward converter mode, non-isolated buck-boost mode) to achieve various voltage conversion ratios, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each conversion task
2Power
If conventional voltage converters use multiple energy storage capacitors and power switches to achieve voltage conversion, then voltage conversion ratio is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple energy storage capacitors into a single shared capacitor that serves multiple voltage conversion circuits. The same capacitor can be used in different conversion paths (e.g., from first voltage to second voltage, and from third voltage to fourth voltage), reducing the total component count while maintaining the required power conversion capability
Solution Approach 2:
The energy storage capacitor is designed with universal application across different voltage conversion modes. The same physical capacitor can function in isolated and non-isolated conversion circuits, and can be selectively connected to different voltage nodes through switching control, enabling high voltage conversion ratios without proportionally increasing component quantities
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
This approach enables efficient voltage conversion with fewer components and pins, reducing costs and circuit size while allowing for flexible output voltages to meet various load requirements.
Implementation Method 1
N switched capacitor circuits sequentially connected in series between the input end and the output end, wherein each switched capacitor circuit includes a switch circuit and a flying capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
A voltage converter can include: an input end configured to receive an input voltage; an output end configured to generate an output voltage; N switched capacitor circuits sequentially coupled in series between the input end and the output end, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2; where each switched capacitor circuit comprises a switch circuit and a flying capacitor, and at least the flying capacitor of an i-th switched capacitor circuit is configured as an output capacitor of an (i−1)-th switched capacitor circuit, where i is a positive integer that is greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to N; and a first energy storage element coupled to the output end.