Multi-port power converters and associated methods
A method for operating a multi-port power converter includes (a) controlling flow of electric current through an inductor of the multi-port power converter using a control switching device of the multi-port power converter and (b) causing one of a plurality of load switch assemblies of the multi-port power converter to provide a freewheel path for electric current flowing through the inductor in response to the control switching device switching from its on-state to its off-state. Each load switch assembly is electrically coupled between the inductor and a respective one of a plurality of ports of the multi-port power converter.
1 . A method for operating a multi-port power converter, comprising: controlling flow of electric current through an inductor of the multi-port power converter using a control switching device of the multi-port power converter; and causing one of a plurality of load switch assemblies of the multi-port power converter to provide a freewheel path for electric current flowing through the inductor in response to the control switching device switching from its on-state to its off-state, each load switch assembly being electrically coupled between the inductor and a respective one of a plurality of ports of the multi-port power converter, wherein the inductor is coupled between an input capacitor and the control switch device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising alternating which load switch assembly of the plurality of load switch assemblies provides the freewheel path for the electric current flowing through the inductor, to provide electric power to more than one of the plurality of ports of the multi-port power converter.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a first port of the plurality of ports is electrically coupled to a wireless power transfer interface; and
a second port of the plurality of ports is electrically coupled to a wired power transfer interface.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the wired power transfer interface comprises an Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising preventing flow of electric current through each load switch assembly of the plurality of load switch assemblies other than the load switch assembly providing the freewheel path for the electric current flowing through the inductor in response to the control switching device switching from its on-state to its off-state.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-port power converter has a topology selected from a group consisting of a boost topology and a buck and boost topology.
7 . A multi-port power converter, comprising: an inductor; a control switching device electrically coupled to the inductor; a first load switch assembly electrically coupled between the inductor and a first port; a second load switch assembly electrically coupled between the inductor and a second port; and a controller configured to cause one of the first load switch assembly and the second load switch assembly to provide a freewheel path for electric current flowing through the inductor in response to the control switching device switching from its on-state to its off-state, wherein the inductor is coupled between an input capacitor and the control switch device.
8 . The multi-port power converter of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control duty cycle of the control switching device to regulate one or more parameters of the multi-port power converter.
9 . The multi-port power converter of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to alternately cause the first load switch assembly and the second load switch assembly to provide the freewheel path for the electric current flowing through the inductor, to provide electric power to each of the first port and the second port.
10 . The multi-port power converter of claim 7 , wherein:
the first load switch assembly comprises a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET electrically coupled in series; and
the second load switch assembly comprises a third FET and a fourth FET electrically coupled in series.
11 . The multi-port power converter of claim 10 , wherein:
the first FET and the second FET are configured in the multi-port power converter such that electric current cannot flow through the first FET and the second FET solely via respective body diodes of the first FET and the second FET; and
the third FET and the fourth FET are configured in the multi-port power converter such that electric current cannot flow through the third FET and the fourth FET solely via respective body diodes of the third FET and the fourth FET.
12 . The multi-port power converter of claim 7 , wherein the multi-port power converter has a boost topology.
13 . The multi-port power converter of claim 7 , wherein the multi-port power converter has a buck and boost topology.
14 . An electrical system, comprising: a multi-port power converter, including: an inductor, a control switching device electrically coupled to the inductor, a first load switch assembly electrically coupled between the inductor and a first port of the multi-port power converter, a second load switch assembly electrically coupled between the inductor and a second port of the multi-port power converter, and a controller configured to cause one of the first load switch assembly and the second load switch assembly to provide a freewheel path for electric current flowing through the inductor in response to the control switching device switching from its on-state to its off-state; a wireless power transfer interface electrically coupled to the first port; and a wired power transfer interface electrically coupled to the second port, wherein the inductor is coupled between an input capacitor and the control switch device.
15 . The electrical system of claim 14 , where the wired power transfer interface comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface.
16 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to control duty cycle of the control switching device to regulate one or more of voltage at the first port and voltage at the second port.
17 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to alternately cause the first load switch assembly and the second load switch assembly to provide the freewheel path for the electric current flowing through the inductor, to provide electric power to each of the first port and the second port.
18 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first load switch assembly comprises a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET electrically coupled in series; and
the second load switch assembly comprises a third FET and a fourth FET electrically coupled in series.
19 . The electrical system of claim 18 , wherein:
the first FET and the second FET are configured in the multi-port power converter such that electric current cannot flow through the first FET and the second FET solely via respective body diodes of the first FET and the second FET; and
the third FET and the fourth FET are configured in the multi-port power converter such that electric current cannot flow through the third FET and the fourth FET solely via respective body diodes of the third FET and the fourth FET.
20 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the multi-port power converter has a topology selected from a group consisting of (a) a boost topology and (b) a buck and boost topology.