Multi-level boost converter

1. A DC to DC voltage converter, comprising:

an input voltage node configured to receive an input voltage;

an output voltage node configured to provide an output voltage;

an inductor connected between the input voltage node and the output voltage node;

first and second diodes connected in series between the inductor and the output voltage node and configured to allow current to flow from the inductor to the output voltage node;

a first capacitor having a first plate and a second plate, the first plate connected to a node between the first and second diodes, and the second plate connected to an internal node;

a third diode connected between the internal node and an intermediate voltage node and configured to allow current to flow from the internal node to the intermediate voltage node;

a first switch connected between the internal node and a node between the inductor and the first and second diodes;

a second switch connected between the internal node and ground, the first and second switches configured to generate a multi-level waveform on the internal node; and

a third switch through which the second plate of the first capacitor is connected to the internal node.

2. The DC to DC converter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a fourth diode connected in parallel with first and second diodes between the inductor and the output voltage node, configured to allow current to flow from the inductor to the output voltage node.

3. The DC to DC converter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second capacitor connected between the output voltage node and the intermediate voltage node; and

a third capacitor connected between the intermediate voltage node and ground.

4. The DC to DC converter of claim 1 , wherein the first and second switches are NMOS transistors.

5. The DC to DC converter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a control circuit configured to provide first and second non-overlapping control waveforms to the first and second switches, respectively.

6. The DC to DC converter of claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is further configured receive the output voltage and vary a duty cycle of the first and second control waveforms to regulate a level of the output voltage.

7. The DC to DC converter of claim 5 , wherein:

the control circuit is configured to turn the third switch on while concurrently providing the first and second non-overlapping control waveforms to the first and second switches.

8. The DC to DC converter of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to perform a pre-charge operation that includes concurrently turning off the first, second and third switches.

9. A DC to DC voltage conversion system, comprising:

a DC to DC conversion circuit, comprising:

an inductor connected between an input node and an output node;

first and second diodes connected in series between the inductor and the output node, configured to allow current to flow from the inductor to the output node;

a bridge circuit connected between a node connecting the inductor to the first and second diodes and ground, the bridge circuit configured to generate a multi-level waveform on an internal node;

a capacitor having a first plate and a second plate, the first plate connected to a node between the first and second diodes and the second plate connected to the internal node;

a third diode connected between the internal node and an intermediate voltage node configured to allow current to flow from the internal node to the intermediate voltage node; and

a first switch through which the second plate of the capacitor is connected to the internal node; and

a control circuit connected to the bridge circuit, the control circuit configured to supply the bridge circuit first and second non-overlapping control waveforms whereby an output voltage is generated at the output node from an input voltage at the input node, wherein the control circuit configured to turn the first switch on while concurrently providing the first and second non-overlapping control waveforms to the bridge circuit.

10. The DC to DC voltage conversion system of claim 9 , wherein the bridge circuit includes:

a second switch connected between the internal node and the node connecting the inductor to the first and second diodes and configured to receive the first control waveform; and

a third switch connected between the internal node and ground and configured to receive the second control waveform.

11. The DC to DC voltage conversion system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to perform a pre-charge operation that includes concurrently turning off the first, second and third switches.

12. The DC to DC voltage conversion system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit configured to turn the first switch on while concurrently providing the first and second non-overlapping control waveforms to the second and third switches.

13. The DC to DC voltage conversion system of claim 9 , the DC to DC conversion circuit further comprising:

a fourth diode connected in parallel with first and second diodes between the inductor and the output node, configured to allow current to flow from the inductor to the output node.

14. The DC to DC voltage conversion system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is further configured receive the output voltage and vary a duty cycle of the first and second control waveforms to regulate the level of the output voltage.

15. The DC to DC voltage conversion system of claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to perform a pre-charge operation that includes turning off the first switch.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving an input voltage at an input node;

generating from the input voltage an output voltage at an output node, generating the output voltage comprising:

generating first and second non-overlapping control waveforms;

applying the first and second non-overlapping waveforms to a bridge circuit; and

generating by the bridge circuit from the first and second non-overlapping waveforms of a multi-state waveform at an internal node of a DC to DC voltage converter, the DC to DC voltage converter including:

an inductor connected between the input node and the output node;

first and second diodes connected in series between the inductor and the output node, configured to allow current to flow from the inductor to the output node;

a first capacitor having a first plate and a second plate, the first plate connected to a node between the first and second diodes and the second plate connected to the internal node

a third diode connected between the internal node and an intermediate voltage node, configured to allow current to flow from the internal node to the intermediate voltage node; and

a first switch through which the second plate of the first capacitor is connected to the internal node,

wherein the bridge circuit is connected between a node connecting the inductor to the first and second diodes and ground,

the method further comprising:

prior to generating the output voltage at the output node, performing a pre-charge operation, the pre-charge operation including:

receiving the input voltage at the input node while setting the first switch off.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein generating the output voltage at the output node further includes:

varying a duty cycle of the first and second non-overlapping control waveforms to regulate the output voltage.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the bridge circuit includes:

a second switch connected between the internal node and the node connecting the inductor to the first and second diodes, configured to receive the first control waveform; and

a third switch connected between the internal node and ground, configured to receive the second control waveform.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pre-charge operation further includes:

receiving the input voltage at the input node while setting the second and third switches off.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein generating the output voltage at the output node further includes setting the first switch on.