Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.

Abstract: Inverter systems, circuits and associated control techniques for providing efficient delivery of high-frequency (HF) power and radio-frequency (RF) power into variable load impedances while maintaining resistive/inductive loading of the constituent inverters for zero voltage switching (ZVS) are described. The inverter architecture and associated control techniques for providing efficient delivery of HF into variable load impedances includes a first inverter having an output coupled to an input of an immittance converter. An output of the immittance converter is coupled to a second inverter. The second inverter maybe either serially or parallel coupled between the output of the immittance converter and a load.

Abstract: Described is a hybrid electronic and magnetic structure that enables a transformer with fractional and reconfigurable effective turns ratios (e.g. 12:0.5, 12:?, 12:1, and 12:2) and hereinafter referred to as a Variable-Inverter-Rectifier-Transformer (VIRT). A VIRT is valuable in converters having wide operating voltage ranges and high step-up/down, as it offers a means to reduce turns count and copper loss within a transformer while facilitating voltage doubling and quadrupling. Such characteristics are beneficial for reducing the size of a transformer stage in many power electronics applications, such as USB wall chargers. In embodiments, a VIRT comprises a plurality of switching cells distributed around a magnetic core and coupled to half-turns wound through that core. By controlling operating modes of the switching cells, it is possible to gain control over flux paths and current paths in the transformer.

Abstract: Described herein are power conversion systems and related techniques which utilize a coupled split path (CSP) circuit architecture. The CSP structure combines switches, capacitors and magnetic elements in such a way that power is processed in multiple coupled split paths in a variety of voltage domains. These techniques are well suited for power conversion applications that have one or more input/output ports that have a wide voltage range, or if the application is interfacing with the ac line voltage and requires power-factor correction.

Abstract: In accordance with the concepts, circuits and techniques described herein, a converter circuit is provided having multiple half-bridge switching cells that can be selectively controlled using one or more switching patterns to convert a source voltage to a desired output voltage over wide voltage and power ranges while maintaining zero-voltage switching and/or zero-current switching. The convert circuit includes capacitive elements disposed between center switching nodes of the half-bridge switching cells and fixed potentials and a magnetic energy storage element coupling the center switching nodes of first and second half-bridge switching cells. A controller is coupled to the converter circuit to monitor, control and apply one or more switching patterns the half-bridge switching cells such that components of the half-bridge switching cells are switched having a minimal or zero voltage (or current) across them.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for achieving high linearity, high efficiency power amplifiers, including digital predistortion (DPD) and pulse cancellation in switched-state RF power amplifier systems are described.

Abstract: A stacked switched capacitor (SSC) energy buffer circuit includes a switching network and a plurality of energy storage capacitors. The switching network need operate at only a relatively low switching frequency and can take advantage of soft charging of the energy storage capacitors to reduce loss. Thus, efficiency of the SSC energy buffer circuit can be extremely high compared with the efficiency of other energy buffer circuits. Since circuits utilizing the SSC energy buffer architecture need not utilize electrolytic capacitors, circuits utilizing the SSC energy buffer architecture overcome limitations of energy buffers utilizing electrolytic capacitors. Circuits utilizing the SSC energy buffer architecture (without electrolytic capacitors) can achieve an effective energy density characteristic comparable to energy buffers utilizing electrolytic capacitors.

Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched phase-switched, impedance modulation amplifier (PSIM). The PSIM has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PSIM includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value such that an impedance presented to an input or output port of an RF amplifier may be varied.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for achieving high linearity, high efficiency power amplifiers, including digital predistortion (DPD) and pulse cancellation in switched-state RF power amplifier systems are described.

Abstract: An impedance control resonant power converter (converter) operated at a fixed switching frequency includes an impedance control network (ICN) coupled between two or more inverters operated at a fixed duty ratio with a phase shift between them and one or more rectifiers. The phase shift is used to control output power or compensate for variations in input or output voltage. The converter operates at fixed frequency yet achieves simultaneous zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero or near zero current switching (ZCS) across a wide operating range. Output power may be controlled by: (1) changing phase shift between inverters; or (2) adjusting phase shift between inverters depending upon input and/or output voltages so that an admittance presented to the inverters is conductive and then turning the converter on and off at a frequency lower than the converter switching frequency to control output power below a value set by the phase shift.

Abstract: A circuit includes a reconfigurable rectifier, a voltage balancer, and a pair of converters. The reconfigurable rectifier includes an ac input port and three output ports. In a first configuration, the reconfigurable rectifier can deliver power at a first output port and, in a second configuration, to at least a second output port. The voltage balancer includes first and second ports coupled to second and third output ports of the reconfigurable rectifier and is configured to balance received voltage at the first and second ports. The first converter has an input coupled to the first port of the voltage balancer and an output at which a first converted voltage signal is provided. The second converter has an input coupled to the second port of the voltage balancer and an output at which a second converted voltage signal is provided.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system or transmitter includes one or more power amplifiers and a controller that is configured to adjust amplitudes and phases of RF input signals of the one or more power amplifiers and supply voltages applied to the one or more power amplifiers. In embodiments where multiple power amplifiers are used, a combiner may be provided to combine outputs of the power amplifiers.

Abstract: Described herein are power conversion systems and related techniques which utilize a coupled split path (CSP) circuit architecture. The CSP structure combines switches, capacitors and magnetic elements in such a way that power is processed in multiple coupled split paths in a variety of voltage domains. These techniques are well suited for power conversion applications that have one or more input/output ports that have a wide voltage range, or if the application is interfacing with the ac line voltage and requires power-factor correction.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched phase-switched, impedance modulation amplifier (PSIM). The PSIM has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PSIM includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value such that an impedance presented to an input or output port of an RF amplifier may be varied.

Abstract: A power combining and outphasing system and related techniques for simultaneously providing both wide-bandwidth linear amplification and high average efficiency is described. Providing linear amplification encompasses the ability to dynamically control an RF output power level over a wide range while still operating over a wide frequency bandwidth. The system and techniques described herein also operate to maintain high efficiency across a wide range of output power levels, such that a high average efficiency can be achieved for highly modulated output waveforms.

Abstract: Inverter systems, circuits and associated control techniques for providing efficient delivery of high-frequency (HF) power and radio-frequency (RF) power into variable load impedances while maintaining resistive/inductive loading of the constituent inverters for zero voltage switching (ZVS) are described. The inverter architecture and associated control techniques for providing efficient delivery of HF into variable load impedances includes a first inverter having an output coupled to an input of an immittance converter. An output of the immittance converter is coupled to a second inverter. The second inverter maybe either serially or parallel coupled between the output of the immittance converter and a load.

Abstract: A power converter for converting DC power to DC power includes an inverter stage having two or more switched inverters configured to receive DC power from a source and produce a switched AC output power signal. A transformation stage is coupled to receive the switched output power signal from the inverter stage, shape the output power signal, and produce a shaped power signal. A rectifier stage having two or more switched inverters coupled to receive the shaped power signal and convert the shaped power signal to a DC output power signal is included. A controller circuit is coupled to operate the power converter in a variable frequency multiplier mode where at least one of the switched inverters is switched at a frequency or duty cycle that results in an output signal having a frequency that is a harmonic of the fundamental frequency being generated by the power converter.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed towards a microgrid having modular power management units to control and regulate power to maintain a stable energy environment and provide peer-to-peer electricity sharing within the microgrid. The microgrid includes a power source to generate power for the microgrid, a source power management unit coupled to the power source to receive the power, one or more load power management units coupled to the source power management unit to receive a portion of the power and a bi-directional communication system to couple the source power management unit to the one or more load power management units to control and allocate the power from the source power management unit to the one or more load power management units.