IP Library Granted Patent US 11,063,515
Granted Patent B2
US 11,063,515 · App. 16/595,921 · Granted Jul 13, 2021

Power converter

Inventor: Po-Hsun Huang (Tainan, TW)
Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
H02M3/158H02M1/00H02M3/07H02M2001/0041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,063,515
App. No.
16/595,921
Granted
Jul 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power converter is provided. The power converter includes a switched-capacitor conversion circuit and an inductor buck circuit. The switched-capacitor conversion circuit receives an input voltage and operates according to a first operation frequency to convert the input voltage to an intermediate voltage. The inductor buck circuit is coupled to the switched-capacitor conversion circuit in series. The inductor buck circuit receives the intermediate voltage and operates on a second operation frequency to generate an output voltage at a conversion output terminal according to the intermediate voltage. The first operation frequency is determined according to the second operation frequency.

Claims (30)

1. A power converter, comprising:

a switched-capacitor conversion circuit configure to receive an input voltage, and operate, according to a first operating frequency, to convert the input voltage into an intermediate voltage; and

an inductor buck circuit connected in series to the switched-capacitor conversion circuit, and configured to receive the intermediate voltage and operated with a second operating frequency to generate an output voltage on a conversion output terminal according to the intermediate voltage,

wherein the switched-capacitor conversion circuit comprises a plurality of switches, and the inductor buck circuit comprises a high-side switch and an inductor connected in series between the switched-capacitor conversion circuit and the conversion output terminal,

wherein during a period in which the high-side switch is turned on, all of the plurality of switches of the switched-capacitor conversion circuit are switched according to the first operating frequency; and

wherein all of the plurality of switches are used in power conversion of the switched-capacitor conversion circuit.

2. The power converter according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of switches are switched according to a clock signal having the first operating frequency, and the high-side switch of the inductor buck circuit is controlled by a first switching signal having the second operating frequency, and

wherein the power converter comprises a clock generator configured to receive the first switching signal, and generate the clock signal according to the first switching signal.

3. The power converter according to claim 2 , wherein the clock generator comprises:

a frequency detection circuit configured to receive the first switching signal, and detect a frequency of the first switching signal, to generate a frequency signal;

a phase detection circuit configured to receive the first switching signal and the frequency signal, and generate a detection signal, wherein when the first switching signal and the frequency signal are in phase, the phase detection circuit enables the enable signal; and

a frequency divider circuit configured to receive the detection signal, and generate the clock signal according to the detection signal.

4. The power converter according to claim 3 , wherein the first operating frequency of the clock signal is a half of a frequency of the detection signal.

5. The power converter according to claim 3 , wherein the frequency detection circuit comprises:

a current source configured to provide a charging current;

a first switch coupled between the current source and a first node, and controlled by the first operating signal;

a capacitor coupled between the first node and a second node, wherein a ramp voltage is generated on the first node, and the frequency detection circuit receives the output voltage through the second node;

a second switch coupled between the first node and the second node; and

a comparator having a positive input coupled to the first node, and a negative input receiving the intermediate voltage, and configured to compare the ramp voltage and the intermediate voltage, to generate the frequency signal.

6. The power converter according to claim 3 , wherein the phase detection circuit comprises:

a D-Flip-Flop having an input terminal receiving the detection signal, a clock terminal receiving the first switching signal, and an output terminal generating the detection signal.

7. The power converter according to claim 3 , wherein the frequency divider circuit comprises:

a D-Flip-Flop having an input terminal, a clock terminal receiving the detection signal, an output terminal generating the clock signal, and an inverting output terminal.

8. The power converter according to claim 1 , wherein the input terminal of the inductor buck circuit receives the intermediate voltage, and the inductor buck circuit comprises:

an input capacitor coupled between an input terminal of the inductor buck circuit and ground;

a high-side switch coupled between the input terminal of the inductor buck circuit and a first node;

a low-side switch coupled between the first node and ground;

an inductor coupled between the first node and the conversion output terminal; and

an output capacitor coupled between the conversion output terminal and ground,

wherein a turn-on period of the high-side switch and a turn-on period of the low-side switch do not overlap with each other.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2019
From: HUANG, PO-HSUN
To: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050751/0569 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW 107143362 · Dec 4, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200177081A1 · Jun 4, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,348,153