Multi-port buck-boost converter and method of control

1. A buck-boost converter, comprising:

at least three input/output ports;

at least three sets of switches, one of the sets of switches being associated with each of the input/output ports;

at least two ripple current limiters, each of the ripple current limiters being associated with a respective one of the sets of switches between the respective one of the sets of switches and another one of the sets of switches; and

a controller that controls operation of the switches by selectively

providing synchronized switch activation signals to switches that have one side connected to a positive terminal of an associated input/output port, the synchronized switch activation signals having a same phase over at least a majority of a cycle; and

providing other synchronized switch activation signals to switches that have one side connected to a negative terminal of an associated input/output port, the other synchronized switch activation signals having a same phase over at least a majority of the cycle.

2. The buck-boost converter of claim 1 , wherein

a first one of the ripple current limiters is associated with one of the input/output ports,

a second one of the ripple current limiters is associated with another one of the input/output ports, and

the first one of the ripple current limiters is connected in series with the second one of the ripple current limiters.

3. The buck-boost converter of claim 2 , wherein the first one of the ripple current limiters comprises an inductor and the second one of the ripple current limiters comprises an inductor.

4. The buck-boost converter of claim 1 , wherein

a first one of the ripple current limiters is associated with one of the input/output ports,

a second one of the ripple current limiters is associated with another one of the input/output ports, and

the first one of the ripple current limiters is connected in parallel with the second one of the ripple current limiters.

5. The buck-boost converter of claim 4 , wherein the first one of the ripple current limiters comprises an inductor and the second one of the ripple current limiters comprises an inductor.

6. The buck-boost converter of claim 1 , wherein each of the ripple current limiters comprises an inductor.

7. The buck-boost converter of claim 1 , wherein

one of the sets of switches associated with a first input/output port includes a first switch and a second switch with a first switch connector coupling one side of the first switch to one side of the second switch,

one of the sets of switches associated with a second input/output port includes a third switch and a fourth switch with a second switch connector coupling one side of the third switch to one side of the fourth switch,

one of the sets of switches associated with a third input/output port includes a fifth switch and a sixth switch with a third switch connector coupling one side of the fifth switch to one side of the sixth switch,

a first one of the ripple current limiters is connected between the first switch connector and the second switch connector, and

a second one of the ripple current limiters is connected between the first switch connector and the third switch connector.

8. The buck-boost converter of claim 7 , wherein the first one of the ripple current limiters is connected in series with the second one of the ripple current limiters.

9. The buck-boost converter of claim 7 , wherein the first one of the ripple current limiters is in parallel with the second one of the ripple current limiters.

10. The buck-boost converter of claim 7 , wherein:

the first switch has one side connected to a positive terminal of the first input/output port,

the second switch has one side connected to a negative terminal of the first input/output port,

the third switch has one side connected to a positive terminal of the second input/output port,

the fourth switch has one side connected to a negative terminal of the second input/output port,

the synchronized switch activation signals include a switch activation signal provided to the first switch that is synchronized with a switch activation signal provided to the third switch, and

a phase of the switch activation signal provided to the first switch is the same as a phase of the switch activation signal provided to the third switch during at least a majority of a cycle.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein a phase of the switch activation signal provided to the second switch is the same as a phase of the switch activation signal provided to the fourth switch during at least a majority of a cycle.

12. A method of controlling a buck-boost converter including at least three input/output ports and at least two associated ripple current limiters, each of the input/output ports having a plurality of associated switches, the method comprising:

providing synchronized switch activation signals to switches that have one side connected to a positive terminal of an associated input/output port, the synchronized switch activation signals having a same phase over at least a majority of a cycle; and

providing other synchronized switch activation signals to switches that have one side connected to a negative terminal of an associated input/output port, the other synchronized switch activation signals having a same phase over at least a majority of the cycle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the synchronized switch activation signals have a first phase during a portion of the cycle and the other synchronized switch activation signals have a second, opposite phase during the portion of the cycle.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least two associated ripple current limiters each comprise an inductor.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising selectively controlling the plurality of associated switches to deliver power from a first one of the input/output ports to a second one of the input/output ports during at least one time period and to deliver power from the second one of the input/output ports to the first one of the input/output ports during at least one other time period.