Patents by Inventor Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski

Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230412073
    Abstract: A cascaded converter architecture comprising a pure switched-capacitor (SC) stage and a resonant SC stage. Multiple switching buses are utilized to connect the first-stage SC converter with second-stage multi-phase resonant SC converters. The flying capacitors of both stages are resonant with the output inductors, so the charge distribution loss is eliminated. Zero-current switching is realized by adjusting the duty ratio and switching frequency. By using the intermediate switching bus, the number of switches can be reduced, and the intermediate bus capacitor is not required; thereby greatly reducing component count and cost while improving power density. Numerous implementation variations are described by way of example and not limitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Ting Ge, Zichao Ye, Yicheng Zhu, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20230396144
    Abstract: A cascaded power converter architecture is provided which merges a front end stage with subsequent interleaved Switched Capacitor (SC) stages to achieve high conversion ratios. This interleaving control technique addresses practical conversion challenges. Numerous topologies can be created from this approach, a number of examples being depicted, including: (a) a two stage 4-to-1 conversion using two 2-to-1 ReSc converter stages, and (b) 8-to-1 converters with (b)(i) a 2-to-1 ReSC stage followed by a 2nd stage having four 4-to-1 STC converter phases, (b)(ii) a 2-to-1 ReSC 1st stage followed by a 2nd stage with four 4-to-1 series-parallel phases, and (c) a multi-stage cascading three stage converter with a 2-to-1 ReSC 1st stage, a 2nd stage of two 2-to-1 ReSC phases, and a 3rd stage having four 2-to-1 ReSC phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Ting Ge, Zichao Ye, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20230353051
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. GIULIANO, David J. PERREAULT, Robert C.N. PILAWA-PODGURSKI
  • Patent number: 11736010
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20220131463
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. GIULIANO, David J. PERREAULT, Robert C.N. PILAWA-PODGURSKI
  • Patent number: 11245330
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20200328680
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: David M. GIULIANO, David J. PERREAULT, Robert C.N. PILAWA-PODGURSKI
  • Patent number: 10749434
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20200177082
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: David M. GIULIANO, David J. PERREAULT, Robert C.N. PILAWA-PODGURSKI
  • Patent number: 10541611
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20190044443
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: David M. GIULIANO, David J. PERREAULT, Robert C.N. PILAWA-PODGURSKI
  • Patent number: 9799779
    Abstract: A system and method includes a circuit for protecting a photovoltaic string. A bypass switch connects in parallel to the photovoltaic string and a hot spot protection switch connects in series with the photovoltaic string. A first control signal controls opening and closing of the bypass switch and a second control signal controls opening and closing of the hot spot protection switch. Upon detection of a hot spot condition the first control signal closes the bypass switch and after the bypass switch is closed the second control signal opens the hot spot protection switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Katherine A. Kim, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20170237351
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Patent number: 9667139
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20150280553
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Patent number: 9048727
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20150131187
    Abstract: A system and method includes a circuit for protecting a photovoltaic string. A bypass switch connects in parallel to the photovoltaic string and a hot spot protection switch connects in series with the photovoltaic string. A first control signal controls opening and closing of the bypass switch and a second control signal controls opening and closing of the hot spot protection switch. Upon detection of a hot spot condition the first control signal closes the bypass switch and after the bypass switch is closed the second control signal opens the hot spot protection switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Philip T. Krein, Katherine A. Kim, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Publication number: 20140225581
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C.N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Patent number: 8699248
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski
  • Patent number: 8643347
    Abstract: A converter circuit and related techniques for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: David M. Giuliano, David J. Perreault, Robert C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski