Power-Balancing Circuits for Stacked Topologies
In one aspect, a method is described. The method may include operating a plurality of circuit elements, and operating a plurality of magnetically-coupled power-balancing circuits. Each individual power-balancing circuit may be electrically coupled in parallel to a respective circuit element and each individual power-balancing circuit may include a first switch and a second switch (or perhaps more than two switches). The method may include designating one power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits as a primary power-balancing circuit, and alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of the primary power-balancing circuit in accordance with a first duty cycle.
1 . A method comprising:
operating a plurality of circuit elements, wherein each circuit element is a power source that produces power or a power sink that consumes power; and
operating a plurality of magnetically-coupled power-balancing circuits, each individual power-balancing circuit being electrically coupled in parallel to a respective circuit element and each individual power-balancing circuit including a first switch and a second switch, wherein operating the plurality of power-balancing circuits comprises:
designating one power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits as a primary power-balancing circuit; and
alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of the primary power-balancing circuit in accordance with a first duty cycle.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the plurality of power-balancing circuits further comprises:
operating as passive rectifiers the first switch and the second switch of each power-balancing circuit not designated as the primary power-balancing circuit.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the plurality of power-balancing circuits further comprises:
alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of a power-balancing circuit not designated as the primary power-balancing circuit in accordance with a second duty cycle, the second duty cycle being shifted in phase from the first duty cycle.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein designating one power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits as a primary power-balancing circuit comprises:
identifying a particular circuit element that is producing a greatest power; and
designating as the primary power-balancing circuit a particular power-balancing circuit that is coupled in parallel to the identified particular circuit element.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein operating the plurality of power-balancing circuits further comprises:
subsequent to alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of the primary power-balancing circuit, designating a different power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits as a new primary power-balancing circuit; and
alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of the new primary power-balancing circuit in accordance with a first duty cycle.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein operating the plurality of power-balancing circuits further comprises:
operating as passive rectifiers the first switch and the second switch of each power-balancing circuit not designated as the new primary power-balancing circuit.
7 - 11 . (canceled)
12 . A system comprising:
a plurality of circuit elements, wherein each circuit element is a power source that produces power or a power sink that consumes power;
a plurality of magnetically-coupled power-balancing circuits, each individual power-balancing circuit being electrically coupled in parallel to a respective circuit element and each individual power-balancing circuit including a first switch and a second switch; and
a controller coupled to each power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits, the controller being configured to carry out operations comprising:
designating one power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits as a primary power-balancing circuit; and
alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of the primary power-balancing circuit in accordance with a first duty cycle.
13 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein each power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits comprises a respective half-bridge converter.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein each respective half-bridge converter is coupled to a single set of series-wound magnetics.
20 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first duty cycle comprises a 50% duty cycle.
21 . The system of claim 12 , wherein each circuit element of the plurality of circuit elements is coupled together in series to form a stack.
22 . The system of claim 12 , wherein each circuit element of the plurality of circuit elements is electrically isolated from the other circuit elements.
23 . A method comprising:
operating a plurality of circuit elements, wherein each circuit element is a power source that produces power or a power sink that consumes power; and
operating a plurality of power-balancing circuits, each individual power-balancing circuit being electrically coupled in parallel to a respective circuit element and each individual power-balancing circuit including a first switch and a second switch, wherein operating the plurality of power-balancing circuits comprises:
alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of each power-balancing circuit such that at any given time, the first switch of each power-balancing circuit is toggled on while the second switch of each power-balancing switch is toggled off or the first switch of each power-balancing circuit is toggled off while the second switch of each power-balancing switch is toggled on.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein each power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits comprises an output leg coupled between the first switch and the second switch, the output legs of two respective power-balancing circuits of the plurality of power-balancing circuits having coupled between them a capacitor.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the first switch and the second switch of each power-balancing circuit is alternately cycled according to a duty cycle.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the duty cycle comprises a 50% duty cycle.
27 . (canceled)
28 . A system comprising:
a plurality of circuit elements, wherein each circuit element is a power source that produces power or a power sink that consumes power;
a plurality of power-balancing circuits, each individual power-balancing circuit being electrically coupled in parallel to a respective circuit element and each individual power-balancing circuit including a first switch and a second switch; and
a controller coupled to each power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits, the controller being configured to carry out operations comprising:
alternately toggling the first switch and the second switch of each power-balancing circuit such that at any given time, the first switch of each power-balancing circuit is toggled on while the second switch of each power-balancing switch is toggled off or the first switch of each power-balancing circuit is toggled off while the second switch of each power-balancing switch is toggled on.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein each power-balancing circuit of the plurality of power-balancing circuits comprises an output leg coupled between the first switch and the second switch, the output legs of two respective power-balancing circuits of the plurality of power-balancing circuits having coupled between them a capacitor.
30 . (canceled)
31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the duty cycle comprises a 50% duty cycle.
32 . The system of claim 28 , wherein each circuit element of the plurality of circuit elements is coupled together in series to form a stack.