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: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a first voltage into a second voltage includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter having a selectable conversion gain. converter includes a cascade multiplier switched capacitor network having capacitors, each of which electrically connects to a stack node and to a phase node. A controller causes the network to transition between first and second operation modes. In the first mode, at least one capacitor is isolated from a charge transfer path of the reconfigurable switched capacitor power converter. Consequently, in the first mode of operation, the power converter operates with a first gain. In the second mode, the power converter operates with a second conversion gain. Meanwhile, a third voltage across the at least one capacitor is free to assume any value.

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.