IP Library › Granted Patent US 12683418
Granted Patent B2
US 12683418 · App. 18/967,233 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Adaptive voltage regulation with multiple ports

Inventors: Sungkeun Lim (Apex, NC); Dongwoo Han (Cary, NC); Fengshuan Zhou (Cary, NC); Yen-Mo Chen (Apex, NC)
Assignee: Renesas Electronics America Inc.
H02J7/865H01M10/46H02J7/933H02M3/33584H02J2207/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683418
App. No.
18/967,233
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for adaptive voltage regulation with multiple ports are described. The device can include a first voltage regulator coupled to a first port and can regulate voltages between the first port and a battery. The device can further include a second voltage regulator coupled to a second port and can regulate voltages between the second port and the battery. The device can also include a bypass switch coupled to the first voltage regulator, the first port, the second voltage regulator and the second port. The device can further include an integrated circuit configured to operate the bypass switch. When the bypass switch can be turned on, the first voltage regulator can be further configured to regulate voltages between the second port and the battery. The second voltage regulator can be further configured to regulate voltages between the first port and the battery.

Claims (104)

1 . A semiconductor device comprising:

a first voltage regulator coupled to a first port, wherein the first voltage regulator is configured to regulate voltages between the first port and a battery;

a second voltage regulator coupled to a second port, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to regulate voltages between the second port and the battery;

a bypass switch coupled to the first voltage regulator, the first port, the second voltage regulator and the second port; and

a controller configured to determine power demands at the first port and the second port and operate the bypass switch, the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator,

wherein, when a power demand at one of the first port and the second port is greater than a power capacity of the first voltage regulator and a power capacity of the second voltage regulator, the controller is configured to:

turn on the bypass switch to connect the first voltage regulator to the second port and to connect the second voltage regulator to the first port; and

operate both the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator to supply the power demand,

wherein, when the power demand at the first port is greater than the power capacity of the first voltage regulator and less than the power capacity of the second voltage regulator, the controller is configured to:

turn on the bypass switch to connect the second voltage regulator to the first port;

suspend operation of the first voltage regulator; and

operate the second voltage regulator to supply the power demand at the first port, and

wherein, when the power demand at the second port is greater than a power capacity of the second voltage regulator and less than a power capacity of the first voltage regulator, the controller is configured to:

turn on the bypass switch to connect the first voltage regulator to the second port;

suspend operation of the second voltage regulator; and

operate the first voltage regulator to supply the power demand at the second port.

2 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a first controller, and the semiconductor device further comprising:

a first switch coupled between the first voltage regulator and the first port;

a second switch coupled between the second voltage regulator and the second port;

a second controller configured to control the first switch; and

a third controller configured to control the second switch,

wherein when the bypass switch is turned off:

the second controller is configured to turn on the first switch and the third controller is configured to turn off the second switch to form a first current path comprising of the first switch, the first voltage regulator, and the first port; and

the second controller is configured to turn off the first switch and the third controller is configured to turn on the second switch to form a second current path comprising of the second switch, the second voltage regulator, and the second port.

3 . The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein:

the bypass switch is coupled between the first current path and the second current path, wherein the first controller is further configured to:

turn on the bypass switch when the first switch is turned on and when the second switch is turned off to form a third current path comprising of the first switch, the second voltage regulator, and the first port; and

turn on the bypass switch when the first switch is turned off and when the second switch is turned on to form a fourth current path comprising of the second switch, the first voltage regulator, and the second port.

4 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein when the bypass switch is turned on:

the first voltage regulator is configured to output regulated power to the first port and the second port; and

the second voltage regulator is configured to output regulated power to the first port and the second port.

5 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator is a bi-directional buck-boost converter.

6 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator is a bi-directional 3-level buck converter.

7 . The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first port and the second port are among a plurality of ports comprising at least two ports;

the bypass switch is among a plurality of bypass switches; and

each one of the plurality of bypass switches are coupled to a pair of ports among the plurality of ports.

8 . A system comprising:

a battery;

a first port;

a second port; and

a battery charger comprising:

a first voltage regulator coupled to the first port, wherein the first voltage regulator is configured to regulate voltages between the first port and the battery;

a second voltage regulator coupled to the second port, wherein the second voltage regulator is configured to regulate voltages between the second port and the battery;

a bypass switch coupled to the first voltage regulator, the first port, the second voltage regulator and the second port; and

a controller configured to determine power demands at the first port and the second port and operate the bypass switch, the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator,

wherein, when a power demand at one of the first port and the second port is greater than a power capacity of the first voltage regulator and a power capacity of the second voltage regulator, the controller is configured to:

turn on the bypass switch to connect the first voltage regulator to the second port and to connect the second voltage regulator to the first port; and

operate both the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator to supply the power demand,

wherein, when the power demand at the first port is greater than the power capacity of the first voltage regulator and less than the power capacity of the second voltage regulator, the controller is configured to:

turn on the bypass switch to connect the second voltage regulator to the first port;

suspend operation of the first voltage regulator; and

operate the second voltage regulator to supply the power demand at the first port, and

wherein, when the power demand at the second port is greater than a power capacity of the second voltage regulator and less than a power capacity of the first voltage regulator, the controller is configured to:

turn on the bypass switch to connect the first voltage regulator to the second port;

suspend operation of the second voltage regulator; and

operate the first voltage regulator to supply the power demand at the second port.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is a first controller, and the battery charger further comprises:

a first switch coupled between the first voltage regulator and the first port; and

a second switch coupled between the second voltage regulator and the second port,

a second controller configured to control the first switch; and

a third controller configured to control the second switch,

wherein, when the bypass switch is turned off:

the second controller is configured to turn on the first switch and the third controller is configured to turn off the second switch to form a first current path comprising of the first switch, the first voltage regulator, and the first port; and

the second controller is configured to turn off the first switch and the third controller is configured to turn on the second switch to form a second current path comprising of the second switch, the second voltage regulator, and the second port.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the bypass switch is coupled between the first current path and the second current path, wherein the first controller is further configured to:

turn on the bypass switch when the first switch is turned on and when the second switch is turned off to form a third current path comprising of the first switch, the second voltage regulator, and the first port; and

turn on the bypass switch when the first switch is turned off and when the second switch is turned on to form a fourth current path comprising of the second switch, the first voltage regulator, and the second port.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein, when the bypass switch is turned on:

the first voltage regulator is configured to output regulated power to the first port and the second port; and

the second voltage regulator is configured to output regulated power to the first port and the second port.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator is a bi-directional buck-boost converter.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator is a bi-directional 3-level buck converter.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the first port and the second port are among a plurality of ports comprising at least two ports;

the bypass switch is among a plurality of bypass switches; and

each one of the plurality of bypass switches are coupled to a pair of ports among the plurality of ports.

15 . A method comprising:

operating a first voltage regulator coupled to a first port to regulate voltages between the first port and a battery;

operating a second voltage regulator coupled to a second port to regulate voltages between the second port and the battery;

controlling the first voltage regulator, the second voltage regulator, and a bypass switch coupled to the first voltage regulator, the first port, the second voltage regulator and the second port, wherein the controlling comprises:

when a power demand at one of the first port and the second port is greater than a power capacity of the first voltage regulator and a power capacity of the second voltage regulator:

turning on the bypass switch to connect the first voltage regulator to the second port and to connect the second voltage regulator to the first port; and

operating both the first voltage regulator and the second voltage regulator to supply the power demand;

when the power demand at the first port is greater than the power capacity of the first voltage regulator and less than the power capacity of the second voltage regulator:

turning on the bypass switch to connect the second voltage regulator to the first port;

suspending operation of the first voltage regulator; and

operating the second voltage regulator to supply the power demand at the first port; and

when the power demand at the second port is greater than a power capacity of the second voltage regulator and less than a power capacity of the first voltage regulator:

turning on the bypass switch to connect the first voltage regulator to the second port;

suspending operation of the second voltage regulator; and

operating the first voltage regulator to supply the power demand at the second port.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

operating a first switch coupled between the first voltage regulator and the first port; and

operating a second switch coupled between the second voltage regulator and the second port,

wherein, when the bypass switch is turned off, the method further comprises:

turning on the first switch and turning off the second switch to form a first current path comprising of the first switch, the first voltage regulator, and the first port; and

turning off the first switch and turning on the second switch to form a second current path comprising of the second switch, the second voltage regulator, and the second port.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

turning on the bypass switch coupled between the first current path and the second current path,

wherein, when turning on the bypass switch, the method further comprises:

turning on the first switch and turning off the second switch to form a third current path comprising of the first switch, the second voltage regulator, and the first port; and

turning off the first switch and turning on the second switch to form a fourth current path comprising of the second switch, the first voltage regulator, and the second port.