Abstract: In a power converter having a regulator and charge pump, both of which operate in plural modes, a controller receives information indicative of the power converter's operation and, based at least in part on said information, causes transitions between regulator modes and transitions between charge-pump modes.

Abstract: During its first and second residence times, corresponding first and second currents flow between a charge pump and a circuit that connects to one of the charge pump's terminals. Based on a feedback measurement from the charge pump, a controller adjusts these first and second currents.

Abstract: Various embodiments of charge adjustment techniques for a switched capacitor power converter are described. In one example embodiment, briefly, charge adjustment techniques may include a technique to operate a charge pump so as to reduce electrical transient effects that may occur during charge pump transition operation between a first steady state charge pump operation with respect to a first configuration gain mode and a second steady state charge pump operation with respect to a second configuration gain mode. In some instances, electrical transient effects may occur during charge pump transition operation, at least in part, from a selectable adjustment of charge pump configuration gain with respect to a configuration gain mode.

Abstract: Circuit embodiments for a switched-capacitor power converter, and/or methods of operation of such a converter, that robustly deal with various startup scenarios, are efficient and low cost, and have quick startup times to steady-state converter operation. Embodiments prevent full charge pump capacitor discharge during shutdown of a converter and/or rebalance charge pump capacitors during a startup period before switching operation by discharging and/or precharging the charge pump capacitors. Embodiments may include a dedicated rebalancer circuit that includes a voltage sensing circuit coupled to an output voltage of a converter, and a balance circuit configured to charge or discharge each charge pump capacitor towards a target steady-state multiple of the output voltage of the converter as a function of an output signal from the voltage sensing circuit indicative of the output voltage. Embodiments prevent or limit current in-rush to a converter during a startup state.

Abstract: Various embodiments of charge adjustment techniques for a switched capacitor power converter are described. In one example embodiment, briefly, charge adjustment techniques may include a technique to control operation of a charge pump for a switched capacitor power converter so that the charge pump is able to adjust the charge of a selected one or more of the two or more charge pump capacitors along a charge transfer path, independent of the charge of other charge pump capacitors of the two or more charge pump capacitors. Likewise, in some instances, a charge may be adjusted in a manner that is to include at least one of the following: a current source, a voltage regulator, an adjustment of switching frequency of a charge pump, a time-based charge operation, a bypass switch with respect to at least one charge pump capacitor, on-resistance modulation for one or more switches of the charge pump, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for power conversion includes a switching network that controls interconnections between pump capacitors in a capacitor network that has a terminal coupled to a current source, and a charge-management subsystem. In operation, the switching network causes the capacitor network to execute charge-pump operating cycles during each of which the capacitor network adopts different configurations in response to different configurations of the switching network. At the start of a first charge-pump operating cycle, each pump capacitor assumes a corresponding initial state. The charge-management subsystem restores each pump capacitor to the initial state by the start of a second charge-pump operating cycle that follows the first charge-pump operating cycle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a fault detector for a voltage converter are described. In one example embodiment, briefly, the fault detector is capable to detect one or more fault events during operation of a voltage converter. Likewise, the fault detector is capable to generate one or more fault signals with respect to the one or more to be detected fault events. The one or more fault signals, in the example embodiment, to signal a disconnect switch of the voltage converter to electrically disconnect or otherwise via a high impedance state to limit current flow through at least one switch of a set of switches of the voltage converter. In another example embodiment, the fault detector, responsive to the one or more fault signals, capable to generate a bus interrupt signal on a pin out, such as of an integrated circuit (IC) for use with the voltage converter, or capable to toggle a fault indicator pin out of the IC. Other additional embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Transient or fault conditions for a switched capacitor power converter are detected by measuring one or more of internal voltages and/or currents associated with switching elements (e.g., transistors) or phase nodes, or voltages or currents at terminals of the converter, and based on these measurements detect that a condition has occurred when the measurements deviate from a predetermined range. Upon detection of the condition fault control circuitry alters operation of the converter, for example, by using a high voltage switch to electrically disconnect at least some of the switching elements from one or more terminals of the converter, or by altering timing characteristics of the phase signals.

Abstract: A power converter that supplies a constant output voltage includes a regulator that connects to a charge pump. The charge pump is operable in plural charge-pump modes. A controller preemptively suppress evidence of occurrence of a transition between said charge-pump modes.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. The power converter has switch elements configured to electrically interconnect capacitors to one another and/or to the first or second voltage in successive states. The switch elements are configured to interconnect at least some capacitors to one another through the switch elements. A controller causes the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter to transition between first and second operation modes. The controller minimizes electrical transients arising from transition between modes. In the first operating mode, the power converter operates with a first conversion gain. In the second operating mode, it operates with a second conversion gain.

Abstract: In a power converter having a regulator and charge pump, both of which operate in plural modes, a controller receives information indicative of the power converter's operation and, based at least in part on said information, causes transitions between regulator modes and transitions between charge-pump modes.

Abstract: Circuit embodiments for a switched-capacitor power converter, and/or methods of operation of such a converter, that robustly deal with various startup scenarios, are efficient and low cost, and have quick startup times to steady-state converter operation. Embodiments prevent full charge pump capacitor discharge during shutdown of a converter and/or rebalance charge pump capacitors during a startup period before switching operation by discharging and/or precharging the charge pump capacitors. Embodiments may include a dedicated rebalancer circuit that includes a voltage sensing circuit coupled to an output voltage of a converter, and a balance circuit configured to charge or discharge each charge pump capacitor towards a target steady-state multiple of the output voltage of the converter as a function of an output signal from the voltage sensing circuit indicative of the output voltage. Embodiments prevent or limit current in-rush to a converter during a startup state.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing electric power to a load includes a power converter that accepts electric power in a first form and provides electric power in a second form. The power converter comprises a control system, a first stage, and a second stage in series. The first stage accepts electric power in the first form. The control system controls operation of the first and second stage. The first stage is either a switching network or a regulating network. The second stage is a regulating circuit when the first stage is a switching network, and a switching network otherwise.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a fault detector for a voltage converter are described. In one example embodiment, briefly, the fault detector is capable to detect one or more fault events during operation of a voltage converter. Likewise, the fault detector is capable to generate one or more fault signals with respect to the one or more to be detected fault events.

Abstract: In a power converter that includes a switched-capacitor circuit connected to a switched-inductor circuit, reconfiguration logic causes the switched-capacitor circuit to transition between first and second switched-capacitor configurations with different voltage-transformation ratios. A compensator compensates for a change in the power converter's forward-transfer function that would otherwise result from the transition between the two switched-capacitor configurations.

Abstract: A level shifter causes a switch to open or close by selecting one of two stored logical values to generate a gate-drive voltage to cause a transition in the switch.

Abstract: Various embodiments of charge adjustment techniques for a switched capacitor power converter are described. In one example embodiment, briefly, charge adjustment techniques may include a technique to control operation of a charge pump for a switched capacitor power converter so that the charge pump is able to adjust the charge of a selected one or more of the two or more charge pump capacitors along a charge transfer path, independent of the charge of other charge pump capacitors of the two or more charge pump capacitors. Likewise, in some instances, a charge may be adjusted in a manner that is to include at least one of the following: a current source, a voltage regulator, an adjustment of switching frequency of a charge pump, a time-based charge operation, a bypass switch with respect to at least one charge pump capacitor, on-resistance modulation for one or more switches of the charge pump, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: During its first and second residence times, corresponding first and second currents flow between a charge pump and a circuit that connects to one of the charge pump's terminals. Based on a feedback measurement from the charge pump, a controller adjusts these first and second currents.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second pluralities of switches, a controller for controlling these switches, gate-drivers for driving switches from the first plurality of switches, and first and second terminals configured for coupling to corresponding first and second external circuits at corresponding first and second voltages. During operation, the controller causes the first plurality of switches to transition between states. These transitions result in the second voltage being maintained at a value that is a multiple of the first voltage. The controller also causes the second plurality of switches to transition between states. These transitions resulting in capacitors being coupled or decoupled from the second voltage. The gate drivers derive, from the capacitors, charge for causing a voltage that enables switches from the first plurality of switches to be driven.

Abstract: A step-up power-converter has stack nodes, each of which connects to a stack switch and to a pump capacitor to form a switched-capacitor network. Among the stack nodes are first and second stack-nodes. The second stack-node drives a particular stack switch from the plurality of stack switches. When all of the stack switches are open, the first voltage causes the first stack-node to have a first stack-node voltage and causes the second stack-node to have a second stack-node voltage that is less than the first stack-node voltage. During the first state, the second stack-node voltage is insufficient to drive the particular stack-switch. During the second state, the second stack-node voltage is sufficient to drive the particular stack-switch. Causing the switched-capacitor network to transition from the first state to the second state includes, among other things, causing the second stack-node voltage to become sufficient to drive the particular stack-switch.