Method and apparatus for zero-current switching control in switched-capacitor converters
US10122256B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B70/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switched-capacitor converter includes a plurality of legs coupled between the input and a rectifier at the output. Each leg includes a capacitor. A first group of legs is coupled to a first branch of the rectifier, and a second group is coupled to a second branch of the rectifier. A switch device is connected to each leg. The controller alternates switching of the switch devices connected to the first and second groups of legs to transfer energy from input to output. The switching is modified based on zero-crossing information which indicates when current through each switch device crosses or nearly crosses zero, so that each switch device connected to the same group of legs is turned off when current through that switch device crosses or nearly crosses zero and remains off until all switch devices connected to that group have been turned off for a predetermined amount of time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.