Patent · US Active

Efficient voltage converter methods and structures

US7893669B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
19References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 10, 2007
Grant dateFeb 22, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B70/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Voltage converter are provided for efficient generation of voltage signals in a load. The converters are formed with a group of inductors and at least two sets of buck and sync transistors that are arranged with the group so that conducted currents through each of the sets are directed through a respective one of the inductors and further directed to magnetically couple induced currents in the respective inductor of at least an associated one of the sets. Efficiency is particularly enhanced with an operational mode that is directed to light load conditions. In this mode and in at least a selected one of the sets, the buck transistor is turned off throughout the operational mode and the sync transistor is turned off for at least the time that an associated buck transistor is turned on in an associated set which couples induced currents in the respective inductor of the selected set. Preferably, the sync transistor is turned off at the end of a selected time span that begins when the associated buck transistor is turned off.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.