Abstract: An apparatus such as a power converter includes a first flying capacitor operative to store a first flying capacitor voltage; a second flying capacitor operative to store a second flying capacitor voltage; an inductor providing coupling between the first flying capacitor and the second flying capacitor; and a network of switches operative to, in accordance with control signals, produce an output voltage via the first flying capacitor voltage and the second flying capacitor voltage.

Abstract: This disclosure includes novel ways of implementing a voltage converter that powers a load. For example, the voltage converter includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter produces an intermediate voltage and a first output current derived from an input voltage. The first power converter supplies the intermediate voltage to the second power converter. The second power converter produces a second output current based on the intermediate voltage received from the first power converter. An output node of the voltage converter outputs a sum of the first output current and the second output current to produce an output voltage. A power supply can be configured to include any number of multiple voltage converters in parallel to power a load.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: first windings, second windings, a magnetic core, and multiple tap nodes. The first windings are primary windings of a multi-tapped autotransformer. The second windings are secondary windings of the multi-tapped autotransformer. The first windings and the second windings are wrapped around the magnetic core, the second windings disposed in a series connection between the first windings. The multiple tap nodes providing coupling of the first windings and the second windings to a power supply circuit such as a switched-capacitor converter.

Abstract: According to one configuration, an inductor device comprises core material and at least a first electrically conductive path. The core material is fabricated from magnetically permeable material. The first electrically conductive path extends axially through the core material from a proximal end of the inductor device to a distal end of the inductor device. The core material is operable to confine first magnetic flux generated from first current flowing through the first electrically conductive path. The inductor device further includes a gap in the core material. The gap (gas or solid material) has a different magnetic permeability than the core material. Inclusion of the gap in the core material provides a way to tune an inductance of the inductor device and increase a magnetic saturation level of the inductor device. The core material includes any number of electrically conductive paths and corresponding gaps.

Abstract: A power supply includes an assembly comprising an inductor and a transformer. The inductor and the transformer are integrated to share a core of magnetic permeable material disposed in the assembly. The power supply further includes an unregulated power converter stage and a regulated power converter stage. The unregulated power converter stage implements use of the transformer. The regulated power converter stage implements use of the inductor. A combination of the regulated power converter stage and the unregulated power converter stage operative to collectively produce an output voltage to power a load.

Abstract: A voltage converter powers a load. The voltage converter includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter produces an intermediate voltage and a first output current derived from an input voltage. The first power converter supplies the intermediate voltage to the second power converter. The second power converter produces a second output current based on the intermediate voltage received from the first power converter. An output node of the voltage converter outputs a sum of the first output current and the second output current to produce an output voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter converts an input voltage into a first output voltage; the second power converter converts the first output voltage into a second output voltage that powers a load. The second power converter includes a switched-capacitor converter combined with a magnetic device. The switched-capacitor converter provides capacitive energy transfer; the magnetic device provides magnetic energy transfer. Additionally, the second power converter provides unregulated conversion of the first output voltage into the second output voltage via the capacitive energy transfer and the magnetic energy transfer. To maintain the magnitude of the second output voltage within a desired range or setpoint value, the first power converter regulates a magnitude of the first output voltage based on comparison of a magnitude of the second output voltage with respect to a desired setpoint reference voltage.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a monitor, and a controller. The switched-capacitor converter includes an input node to receive an input voltage and an output voltage to output an output voltage. Switching of multiple switches in the switched-capacitor converter converts the input voltage into the output voltage. As its name suggests, the monitor monitors a magnitude of the output voltage. The controller receives input indicating the magnitude of the output voltage. Depending on the magnitude of the output voltage, the controller controls states of the multiple switches during startup of the switched-capacitor converter.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a transformer, and a voltage converter. The switched-capacitor converter includes multiple capacitors. The multiple capacitors are controllably switched in a circuit path including a primary winding of the transformer to convert the first voltage into a second voltage. The voltage converter converts the first voltage produced by the switched-capacitor converter into the second voltage that powers a load.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter converts an input voltage into a first output voltage; the second power converter converts the first output voltage into a second output voltage that powers a load. The second power converter includes a switched-capacitor converter combined with a magnetic device. The switched-capacitor converter provides capacitive energy transfer; the magnetic device provides magnetic energy transfer. Additionally, the second power converter provides unregulated conversion of the first output voltage into the second output voltage via the capacitive energy transfer and the magnetic energy transfer. To maintain the magnitude of the second output voltage within a desired range or setpoint value, the first power converter regulates a magnitude of the first output voltage based on comparison of a magnitude of the second output voltage with respect to a desired setpoint reference voltage.

Abstract: This disclosure includes novel ways of implementing a voltage converter that powers a load. For example, the voltage converter includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter produces an intermediate voltage and a first output current derived from an input voltage. The first power converter supplies the intermediate voltage to the second power converter. The second power converter produces a second output current based on the intermediate voltage received from the first power converter. An output node of the voltage converter outputs a sum of the first output current and the second output current to produce an output voltage. A power supply can be configured to include any number of multiple voltage converters in parallel to power a load.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a power converter includes a first flying capacitor, a second flying capacitor, etc., an inductor, and a network of switches. The network of switches controls conveyance of energy from the multiple flying capacitors to the inductor. The inductor converts the received energy into an output voltage to power a load. A magnitude of the respective voltage on each of the flying capacitors is substantially the same.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter converts an input voltage into a first output voltage; the second power converter converts the first output voltage into a second output voltage that powers a load. The second power converter includes a switched-capacitor converter combined with a magnetic device. The switched-capacitor converter provides capacitive energy transfer; the magnetic device provides magnetic energy transfer. Additionally, the second power converter provides unregulated conversion of the first output voltage into the second output voltage via the capacitive energy transfer and the magnetic energy transfer. To maintain the magnitude of the second output voltage within a desired range or setpoint value, the first power converter regulates a magnitude of the first output voltage based on comparison of a magnitude of the second output voltage with respect to a desired setpoint reference voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a power supply system includes a switched-capacitor converter operative to receive an input voltage. The switched-capacitor converter includes multiple resonant circuit paths to convert the input voltage into a first output voltage and a second output voltage. A first output of the switched-capacitor converter is operative to output the first output voltage; a second output of the switched-capacitor converter is operative to output the second output voltage.

Abstract: According to one configuration, an inductor device comprises core material and at least a first electrically conductive path. The core material is fabricated from magnetically permeable material. The first electrically conductive path extends axially through the core material from a proximal end of the inductor device to a distal end of the inductor device. The core material is operable to confine first magnetic flux generated from first current flowing through the first electrically conductive path. The inductor device further includes a gap in the core material. The gap (gas or solid material) has a different magnetic permeability than the core material. Inclusion of the gap in the core material provides a way to tune an inductance of the inductor device and increase a magnetic saturation level of the inductor device. The core material includes any number of electrically conductive paths and corresponding gaps.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first power converter and a second power converter. The first power converter converts an input voltage into a first output voltage; the second power converter converts the first output voltage into a second output voltage that powers a load. The second power converter includes a switched-capacitor converter combined with a magnetic device. The switched-capacitor converter provides capacitive energy transfer; the magnetic device provides magnetic energy transfer. Additionally, the second power converter provides unregulated conversion of the first output voltage into the second output voltage via the capacitive energy transfer and the magnetic energy transfer. To maintain the magnitude of the second output voltage within a desired range or setpoint value, the first power converter regulates a magnitude of the first output voltage based on comparison of a magnitude of the second output voltage with respect to a desired setpoint reference voltage.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a monitor, and a controller. The switched-capacitor converter includes an input node to receive an input voltage and an output voltage to output an output voltage. Switching of multiple switches in the switched-capacitor converter converts the input voltage into the output voltage. As its name suggests, the monitor monitors a magnitude of the output voltage. The controller receives input indicating the magnitude of the output voltage. Depending on the magnitude of the output voltage, the controller controls states of the multiple switches during startup of the switched-capacitor converter.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a multi-tapped autotransformer, and an output stage. The multi-tapped autotransformer includes multiple primary windings. The switched-capacitor converter includes multiple circuit paths coupled to the primary windings. For example, a first circuit path includes a first capacitor; a second circuit path includes a second capacitor. The power supply further includes a controller that controllably switches an input voltage to the first circuit path and the second circuit path, conveying energy to the primary windings of the multi-tapped autotransformer. The output stage of the power supply is coupled to receive energy from a combination of the first primary winding and the second primary winding of the multi-tapped autotransformer. Via the received energy, the output stage produces an output voltage that powers a load.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a transformer, and a voltage converter. The switched-capacitor converter includes multiple capacitors. The multiple capacitors are controllably switched in a circuit path including a primary winding of the transformer to convert the first voltage into a second voltage. The voltage converter converts the first voltage produced by the switched-capacitor converter into the second voltage that powers a load.

Abstract: A power supply system comprises: a switched-capacitor converter, a multi-tapped autotransformer, and an output stage. The multi-tapped autotransformer includes multiple primary windings. The switched-capacitor converter includes multiple circuit paths coupled to the primary windings. For example, a first circuit path includes a first capacitor; a second circuit path includes a second capacitor. The power supply further includes a controller that controllably switches an input voltage to the first circuit path and the second circuit path, conveying energy to the primary windings of the multi-tapped autotransformer. The output stage of the power supply is coupled to receive energy from a combination of the first primary winding and the second primary winding of the multi-tapped autotransformer. Via the received energy, the output stage produces an output voltage that powers a load.