Abstract: The voltage stress is limited across switches in multi-level flying capacitor step-down dc-dc converters during a start-up sequence by a circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a diode that is adapted to prevent reverse current flow during steady state operation, a pull-down switch and a commutation cell, which includes a start-up capacitor and a flying capacitor.

Abstract: A single-mode quasi constant frequency controller apparatus for controlling output voltage deviation during one or more load transients, the controller apparatus comprising: a converter receiving one or more operational control parameters; a load tracking modulator configured to receive sensory inputs representative of a capacitor current polarity, and to control one or more power transistors of the converter such that an inductor current matches a load current cycle and reconstructs a desired inductor current ripple by splitting both an on-time for inductor charging and an off-time for inductor discharging into a current correction phase (CCP) and a ripple reconstruction phase (RRP), the load tracking modulator communicating the one or more operational control parameters for controlling the one or more power transistors.

Abstract: A device for harvesting electrical energy includes a rectifier and a control device. The rectifier includes a first charging circuit for harvesting energy from a positive voltage of an energy harvester, and a second charging circuit for harvesting energy from a negative voltage of the energy harvester. The charging circuits include a common coil and a common electronic switch. Furthermore, each of the charging circuits includes a capacitor and a blocking element. Because the charging circuits use the coil jointly, the device is designed in a simple and compact manner. In addition, the energy harvesting is efficient, due to the one-stage AC-DC conversion and due to a maximum power point tracking function of the control device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein introduce two sets of methods for limiting the voltage stress across switches in multi-level flying capacitor step-down de-de converters during the start-up sequence. Systems, devices, apparatuses, controllers, control methods, and processors are contemplated for an improved power converter topology. The embodiments are designed to aid in reducing the deficiencies noted in respect of ML-FCs, among others.

Abstract: A single-mode quasi constant frequency controller apparatus for controlling output voltage deviation during one or more load transients, the controller apparatus comprising: a converter receiving one or more operational control parameters; a load tracking modulator configured to receive sensory inputs representative of a capacitor current polarity, and to control one or more power transistors of the converter such that an inductor current matches a load current cycle and reconstructs a desired inductor current ripple by splitting both an on-time for inductor charging and an off-time for inductor discharging into a current correction phase (CCP) and a ripple reconstruction phase (RRP), the load tracking modulator communicating the one or more operational control parameters for controlling the one or more power transistors.

Abstract: A device for harvesting electrical energy includes a rectifier and a control device. The rectifier includes a first charging circuit for harvesting energy from a positive voltage of an energy harvester, and a second charging circuit for harvesting energy from a negative voltage of the energy harvester. The charging circuits include a common coil and a common electronic switch. Furthermore, each of the charging circuits includes a capacitor and a blocking element. Because the charging circuits use the coil jointly, the device is designed in a simple and compact manner In addition, the energy harvesting is efficient, due to the one-stage AC-DC conversion and due to a maximum power point tracking function of the control device.

Abstract: A converter apparatus for energy harvesting comprises a converter and an associated control device. The converter comprises a first charging circuit for charging a galvanic energy store (8) when a positive voltage of a connected energy harvesting device is applied and a second charging circuit for charging the galvanic energy store when a negative voltage of the connected energy harvesting device is applied. The charging circuits each have an electronic switch and an electrical energy store connected in series therewith. The control device is used to actuate the electronic switches on the basis of a polarity of the applied voltage of the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: A power switching device includes a buffer circuit, a filter circuit, a transformer, a restoration circuit, a conditioning circuit and a power switch. The buffer circuit provides a unipolar buffer output voltage dependent on an input voltage and a control voltage. The filter circuit blocks a direct component of the buffer output voltage which is added on the secondary side of the transformer by the restoration circuit. The power switch is controlled by a unipolar conditioning voltage provided by the restoration circuit to the conditioning circuit. The power switching device acts as a plug and play module and can be used and operated in a flexible and easy manner.

Abstract: A power switching device includes a buffer circuit, a filter circuit, a transformer, a restoration circuit, a conditioning circuit and a power switch. The buffer circuit provides a unipolar buffer output voltage dependent on an input voltage and a control voltage. The filter circuit blocks a direct component of the buffer output voltage which is added on the secondary side of the transformer by the restoration circuit. The power switch is controlled by a unipolar conditioning voltage provided by the restoration circuit to the conditioning circuit. The power switching device acts as a plug and play module and can be used and operated in a flexible and easy manner.

Abstract: A converter apparatus for energy harvesting comprises a converter and an associated control device. The converter comprises a first charging circuit for charging a galvanic energy store (8) when a positive voltage of a connected energy harvesting device is applied and a second charging circuit for charging the galvanic energy store when a negative voltage of the connected energy harvesting device is applied. The charging circuits each have an electronic switch and an electrical energy store connected in series therewith. The control device is used to actuate the electronic switches on the basis of a polarity of the applied voltage of the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: What is described is a battery management architecture that eliminates previously described problems of the previous solutions and compensates for the extra cost of a cell-balancing circuit. These advantages are achieved by integrating the voltage step-up and balancing functions as well as charging functions inside a single converter topology. Instead of providing the entire output voltage and power, the converter in this configuration is merely assisting the battery by providing a portion of the power delivered to the load, rather than the entirety of the power delivered to the load. This portion of power is proportional to the difference between the output and the battery pack voltages.

Abstract: What is described is a battery management architecture that eliminates previously described problems of the previous solutions and compensates for the extra cost of a cell-balancing circuit. These advantages are achieved by integrating the voltage step-up and balancing functions as well as charging functions inside a single converter topology. Instead of providing the entire output voltage and power, the converter in this configuration is merely assisting the battery by providing a portion of the power delivered to the load, rather than the entirety of the power delivered to the load. This portion of power is proportional to the difference between the output and the battery pack voltages.