Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for DC voltage conversion. A DC converter (100) is described, with a charge pump circuit comprising a plurality of charge pump stages (1401, 1402-2, 1402-2) each charge pump stage comprising connections for respective first and second capacitors for that stage (C1A, C1B; C2A, C2B; C3A, C3B). The charge pump also has a switch network, wherein the switch network comprises, between each successive stage, four switching paths (S7AA, S7AB, S7Ba, S7BB; S6AA, S6AB, S6Ba, S6BB) for separately connecting a respective first electrode of each of the first and second capacitors of one stage to a first electrode either of the first and second capacitors of the preceding stage, so that the relevant capacitor of the one stage can be charged by the relevant capacitor of the preceding stage.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: a first switch having: first side (FS) connected to first capacitor's second side (1C2S); and second side (SS) connected to reference node (RN); a second switch having: FS connected to second voltage node (2VN); and SS connected to 1C2S; a third switch having: FS connected to the first capacitor's first side (1C1S); and SS connected to 2VN; a fourth switch having: FS connected to a third voltage node (3VN); and SS connected to 1C1S; a fifth switch having: FS connected to second capacitor's second side (2C2S); and SS connected to RN; a sixth switch having: FS connected to 3VN; and SS connected to 2C2S; a seventh switch having: FS connected to the second capacitor's first side (2C1S); and SS connected to 3VN; and an eighth switch having: FS connected to first voltage node; and SS connected to 2C1S.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: a first switch having: a first side connected to a first node; and a second side connected to a second capacitor's first side (2C1S); a second switch having: a first side connected to a second capacitor's second side (2C2S); and a second side connected to a first capacitor's first side (1C1S); a third switch having: a first side connected to a first capacitor's second side (1C2S); and a second side connected to a second node (2VN); a fourth switch having: a first side connected to 2C2S; and a second side connected to a third node (3VN); a fifth switch having: a first side connected to 2C1S; and a second side connected to 1C1S; a sixth switch having: a first side connected to 1C2S; and a second side connected to 3VN; a seventh switch having: a first side connected to 1C1S; and a second side connected to 2VN.

Abstract: Circuit comprising: a first switch (1S) having: a first side (FS) connected to an input node (IN); and a second side (SS); a first capacitor (FC) having: FS connected to SS of 1S; and SS; a second switch having: FS connected to SS of FC; and SS connected to a voltage level node; a third switch having: FS connected to SS of FC; and SS connected to a voltage output node; a fourth switch (4S) having: FS connected to IN; and SS; a second capacitor (SC) having: FS connected to SS of 4S; and SS; a fifth switch having: FS connected to SS of SC; and SS connected to the voltage level node; a sixth switch having: FS connected to SS of SC; and SS connected to the voltage output node; a first connection node connected to FS of FC; and a second connection node connected to FS of SC.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: a first switch having: first side (FS) connected to first capacitor's second side (1C2S); and second side (SS) connected to reference node (RN); a second switch having: FS connected to second voltage node (2VN); and SS connected to 1C2S; a third switch having: FS connected to the first capacitor's first side (1C1S); and SS connected to 2VN; a fourth switch having: FS connected to a third voltage node (3VN); and SS connected to 1C1S; a fifth switch having: FS connected to second capacitor's second side (2C2S); and SS connected to RN; a sixth switch having: FS connected to 3VN; and SS connected to 2C2S; a seventh switch having: FS connected to the second capacitor's first side (2C1S); and SS connected to 3VN; and an eighth switch having: FS connected to first voltage node; and SS connected to 2C1S.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: a first switch having: a first side connected to a first node; and a second side connected to a second capacitor's first side (2C1S); a second switch having: a first side connected to a second capacitor's second side (2C2S); and a second side connected to a first capacitor's first side (1C1S); a third switch having: a first side connected to a first capacitor's second side (1C2S); and a second side connected to a second node (2VN); a fourth switch having: a first side connected to 2C2S; and a second side connected to a third node (3VN); a fifth switch having: a first side connected to 2C1S; and a second side connected to 1C1S; a sixth switch having: a first side connected to 1C2S; and a second side connected to 3VN; a seventh switch having: a first side connected to 1C1S; and a second side connected to 2VN.

Abstract: Circuits comprising: a capacitor; switches that, when State0, couple the capacitor in parallel with the load and, when State1, couple the capacitor in series with the load, wherein a first of the switches connects the capacitor to ground when in State0 and wherein a second of the switches connects the capacitor to an input voltage when in State1; a third switch, wherein a first side of the third switch is connected to the capacitor identically to one of the first switch and the second switch (OFWSW), wherein the third switch switches identically to the OFWSW, wherein the third switch is smaller than the OFWSW; a first resistor connected to the second side of the third switch; and a hardware processor that measures a current flowing through the first resistor and estimates the current provided to the load based on the current measured as flowing through the first resistor.

Abstract: Circuits comprising: a first capacitor(C1); a first switch(S1) having a first side coupled to a VIN and a second side coupled to a first side of C1; a second switch(S2) having a first side coupled to the second side of S1; a third switch(S3) having a first side coupled to a second side of S2 and a second side coupled to a second side of C1; a fourth switch(S4) having a first side coupled to a second side of S3 and a second side coupled to a VSUPPLY, wherein: in a first state, S1 and S3 are off, and S2 and S4 are on; in a second state, S1 and S3 are on, and S2 and S4 are off; and at least one of a control of S1, a control of S2, a control of S3, and a control of S4 is coupled to a time-varying-slew-rate signal.

Abstract: Circuits comprising: a capacitor; switches that, when State0, couple the capacitor in parallel with the load and, when State1, couple the capacitor in series with the load, wherein a first of the switches connects the capacitor to ground when in State0 and wherein a second of the switches connects the capacitor to an input voltage when in State1; a third switch, wherein a first side of the third switch is connected to the capacitor identically to one of the first switch and the second switch (OFWSW), wherein the third switch switches identically to the OFWSW, wherein the third switch is smaller than the OFWSW; a first resistor connected to the second side of the third switch; and a hardware processor that measures a current flowing through the first resistor and estimates the current provided to the load based on the current measured as flowing through the first resistor.

Abstract: Circuits for a voltage regulator are provided, comprising: an inductor having a first side coupled to an input voltage; a first flying capacitor; a second flying capacitor; and a plurality of switches, wherein: in a first state, the plurality of switches couple: a second side of the inductor to a second side of the first flying capacitor and an output node; a first side of the first flying capacitor to a first side of the second flying capacitor; and a second side of the second flying capacitor to a voltage supply, in a second state, the plurality of switches couple: the second side of the inductor to the first side of the second flying capacitor; the second side of the second flying capacitor to the output node and the first side of the first flying capacitor; and the second side of the first flying capacitor to the voltage supply.

Abstract: Systems for charging a battery are provided, the systems comprising: a regulator having an output coupled to the battery and having an input; a wireless charging receiver having an output coupled to the input of the regulator and having an input that receives a power signal from a wireless charging transmitter; a controller having a first input coupled to the input of the regulator, having a second input coupled to the output of the regulator, and having a first output coupled to the wireless charging transmitter, wherein the controller is configured to send, using the first output of the controller, a control signal to the wireless charging transmitter that causes the wireless charging transmitter to change the power signal provided to the wireless charging receiver.

Abstract: Voltage regulator systems include, in part, a regulator comprising an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the regulator is configured to receive an input voltage from an adapter at the input terminal and provide an output voltage at the output terminal, wherein the regulator comprises at least one switched capacitor regulator operating in a first conversion mode corresponding to a first conversion factor. The voltage regulator systems also include a controller configured to control an operation of the regulator, wherein the controller is configured to determine when a conversion ratio of the regulator is greater than the first conversion factor, and, in response, to send a request to the adapter to decrease the input voltage.

Abstract: Circuits comprising: a first capacitor(C1); a first switch(S1) having a first side coupled to a VIN and a second side coupled to a first side of C1; a second switch(S2) having a first side coupled to the second side of S1; a third switch(S3) having a first side coupled to a second side of S2 and a second side coupled to a second side of C1; a fourth switch(S4) having a first side coupled to a second side of S3 and a second side coupled to a VSUPPLY, wherein: in a first state, S1 and S3 are off, and S2 and S4 are on; in a second state, S1 and S3 are on, and S2 and S4 are off; and at least one of a control of S1, a control of S2, a control of S3, and a control of S4 is coupled to a time-varying-slew-rate signal.

Abstract: Circuits for a voltage regulator are provided, comprising: an inductor having a first side coupled to an input voltage; a first flying capacitor; a second flying capacitor; and a plurality of switches, wherein: in a first state, the plurality of switches couple: a second side of the inductor to a second side of the first flying capacitor and an output node; a first side of the first flying capacitor to a first side of the second flying capacitor; and a second side of the second flying capacitor to a voltage supply, in a second state, the plurality of switches couple: the second side of the inductor to the first side of the second flying capacitor; the second side of the second flying capacitor to the output node and the first side of the first flying capacitor; and the second side of the first flying capacitor to the voltage supply.

Abstract: An inductor; a first switch having a first side connected to a first voltage source (VS1); a second switch having a first side connected to a second side of the first switch (2SS1), and a second side connected to a first side of the inductor (1SI); a third switch having a first side connected to the 1SI; a fourth switch having a first side connected to a second side of the third switch (2SS3), and a second side connected to a second voltage source (VS2); a fifth switch having a first side connected to the 1SI, and a second side connected to the VS1 and/or the VS2; a first capacitor having a first side connected to the 2SS1, and a second side connected to the 2SS3; and a second capacitor having a first side connected to a second side of the inductor, and a second side connected to the VS2.

Abstract: An inductor; a first switch having a first side connected to a first voltage source (VS1); a second switch having a first side connected to a second side of the first switch (2SS1), and a second side connected to a first side of the inductor (1SI); a third switch having a first side connected to the 1SI; a fourth switch having a first side connected to a second side of the third switch (2SS3), and a second side connected to a second voltage source (VS2); a fifth switch having a first side connected to the 1SI, and a second side connected to the VS1 and/or the VS2; a first capacitor having a first side connected to the 2SS1, and a second side connected to the 2SS3; and a second capacitor having a first side connected to a second side of the inductor, and a second side connected to the VS2.

Abstract: A voltage regulator system, comprising: a switched capacitor (SC) regulator that operates at a switching frequency and receives an input voltage; and a controller configured to control an operation of the SC regulator by adjusting the switching frequency of the SC regulator based on efficiency. In some embodiments, the switching frequency is swept to determine a best efficiency. In some embodiments, the switching frequency is swept at each of a plurality of values for the input voltage. In some embodiments, the system includes further one or more switches in series with the SC regulator. In some embodiments, the SC regulator includes an output terminal that is coupled to a battery.

Abstract: A voltage regulator comprising: a first regulator module comprising a first transistor switch, wherein the first module operates in a first phase and wherein the first switch is configured to receive a first signal at a first gate of the first switch from a first signal driver; a second regulator module comprising a second transistor switch, wherein the second module operates in a second phase that is different from the first phase, wherein the second switch is configured to receive a second gate drive signal at a second gate of the second switch from a second signal driver, and wherein the second signal is opposite in polarity from the first signal; and a switch that couples the first gate and the second gate during at least part of a time period during which the first switch transitions states and the second switch transitions states.

Abstract: Systems for charging a battery are provided, the systems comprising: a regulator having an output coupled to the battery and having an input; a wireless charging receiver having an output coupled to the input of the regulator and having an input that receives a power signal from a wireless charging transmitter; a controller having a first input coupled to the input of the regulator, having a second input coupled to the output of the regulator, and having a first output coupled to the wireless charging transmitter, wherein the controller is configured to send, using the first output of the controller, a control signal to the wireless charging transmitter that causes the wireless charging transmitter to change the power signal provided to the wireless charging receiver.

Abstract: A voltage regulator system, comprising: a switched capacitor (SC) regulator that operates at a switching frequency and receives an input voltage; and a controller configured to control an operation of the SC regulator by adjusting the switching frequency of the SC regulator based on efficiency. In some embodiments, the switching frequency is swept to determine a best efficiency. In some embodiments, the switching frequency is swept at each of a plurality of values for the input voltage. In some embodiments, the system includes further one or more switches in series with the SC regulator. In some embodiments, the SC regulator includes an output terminal that is coupled to a battery.