Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of a hybrid converter family that allows using a combination of a switched multiple capacitor network and a number of inductors in order to a power conversion from an input to an output that may require a large conversion ratio, high output current, low output voltage, and/or high input voltage. The disclosed circuits and methods can be applied to today's switching regulators and allow them to provide the same power conversion function with less number of power conversion stages, smaller passive components, and less number of active components, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, point-of-load power converters for data centers, telecommunication systems and other high-performance electronic systems.

Abstract: A hybrid converter achieves high efficiency with an inductor positioned at the lower current path that significantly decreases inductor loss by having the DC component of inductor current reduced. The circuit also features reduced inductance requirement by reducing the voltage swing blocked by the inductor. As a result, it turns to benefit of both efficiency improvement and better integration. Less voltage stress for switches is also an important advantage to switching loss reduction and switching frequency increase which in turns enables passive component size reduction. The circuit in this invention can be realized for both step-down and step-up power conversion as well as bidirectional power flow is available. For simplicity and cost, some of switches can be replaced with passive switches such as diodes which highly simplifies the converter circuit implementation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and circuits of a smart cable that allows using parasitic inductances available in any cable that has at least two wires for power connection in order to provide both power connection and power conversion capabilities. Application to switching regulators allow them to provide the same power conversion function with less passive components, and therefore, reduce the implementation space to save cost as well as improve efficiency. Sample applications include, but are not limited to, smart USB cables and smart power cables in computer systems such as a data center that can provide a power delivery function including both power connectivity and power conversion. The use of a cable as an inductor in a hybrid topology helps spread the inductor copper loss over the cable that much larger surface area for heat dissipation, and significantly reduce on-board thermal issues.