Method and apparatus for multi-phase DC-DC converters using coupled inductors in discontinuous conduction mode
US9966853B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 2016 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B70/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present disclosure eliminates the unwanted conduction of the body diode of the low side switch or the unwanted conduction of the low side switch in coupled phases of DC-DC converters operating in DCM to increase efficiency. Specifically, in one implementation, by detecting strong or weak coupling, the present disclosure eliminates body diode conduction in strong coupling by turning on the low side switch and eliminates negative body diode current in weak coupling by turning off the low side switch. Further, for multiphase switching DC-DC converters with coupled inductors operating at light load (i.e., in DCM), when a high side switch of a first phase is turned on, the body diode of a low side switch of a second phase is adaptively bypassed if needed, blocked by specific design, or prevented from conducting by reducing forward voltage across the body diode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.