Abstract: Hybrid DC-DC converters are described. One aspect is an electrical circuit configured to perform a DC-DC voltage conversion between an input voltage and an output voltage. The electrical circuit may include a first electrical network connected between an input node and an output node. The first electrical network may include eight switching transistors, with six of the eight switching transistors being cross-coupled. The electrical circuit may further include a second electrical network connected between a switching node and a ground node, and six flying capacitors connected between the first electrical network and the second electrical network. The electrical circuit may also include an inductor connected between the switching node and the output node. In an aspect, the DC-DC voltage conversion involves a repeated cycle of four distinct switching system states, with each switching system state being associated with a distinct electric current path through the electrical circuit.

Abstract: A power converter and methods with an input terminal, a capacitor, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, an output switch between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and an inductor are presented. A first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first output terminal. An input switch is connected between the input terminal and a first terminal of the capacitor. A first capacitive charging switch is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and the second output terminal. A second capacitive charging switch is connected between the second output terminal and a second terminal of the capacitor. A ground switch is connected between the second terminal of the capacitor and a reference potential. The power converter can convert electrical power into electrical power for powering an external device d or into electrical power for charging an external energy storage device.

Abstract: A power converter including an inductor, a first power switch, a second power switch, a third power switch, a fourth power switch, a sixth power switch, a first flying capacitor, a third flying capacitor, a seventh power switch, an eighth power switch, a ninth power switch, a tenth power switch, a twelfth power switch, a second flying capacitor, and a fourth flying capacitor.

Abstract: A power converter including an inductor, a first power switch, a second power switch, a third power switch, a fourth power switch, a sixth power switch, a first flying capacitor, a third flying capacitor, a seventh power switch, an eighth power switch, a ninth power switch, a tenth power switch, a twelfth power switch, a second flying capacitor, and a fourth flying capacitor.

Abstract: A power converter and methods with an input terminal, a capacitor, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, an output switch between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and an inductor are presented. A first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first output terminal. An input switch is connected between the input terminal and a first terminal of the capacitor. A first capacitive charging switch is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and the second output terminal. A second capacitive charging switch is connected between the second output terminal and a second terminal of the capacitor. A ground switch is connected between the second terminal of the capacitor and a reference potential. The power converter can convert electrical power into electrical power for powering an external device d or into electrical power for charging an external energy storage device.

Abstract: A power converter and methods with an input terminal, a capacitor, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, an output switch between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and an inductor are presented. A first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first output terminal. An input switch is connected between the input terminal and a first terminal of the capacitor. A first capacitive charging switch is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and the second output terminal. A second capacitive charging switch is connected between the second output terminal and a second terminal of the capacitor. A ground switch is connected between the second terminal of the capacitor and a reference potential. The power converter can convert electrical power into electrical power for powering an external device d or into electrical power for charging an external energy storage device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for protecting a host device from one or more power surges transmitted from a sink device. When a sink device is detected as being connected to the host device, a limited level of power is provided to the sink device over a power transmission line and the sink device is authenticated. A normal level of power is provided to the sink device only if the authentication is successful, otherwise a reduced level of power is provided.

Abstract: A power converter and methods with an input terminal, a capacitor, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, an output switch between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and an inductor are presented. A first terminal of the inductor is connected to the first output terminal. An input switch is connected between the input terminal and a first terminal of the capacitor. A first capacitive charging switch is connected between the first terminal of the capacitor and the second output terminal. A second capacitive charging switch is connected between the second output terminal and a second terminal of the capacitor. A ground switch is connected between the second terminal of the capacitor and a reference potential. The power converter can convert electrical power into electrical power for powering an external device d or into electrical power for charging an external energy storage device.

Abstract: A power converter and method using a flying capacitor, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a driver circuit are presented. The first transistor is coupled between an input terminal and a first terminal of the flying capacitor. The second transistor is coupled between the first terminal of the flying capacitor and an output terminal. The third transistor is coupled between the output terminal and a second terminal of the flying capacitor. The fourth transistor is coupled between the second terminal of the flying capacitor and a reference potential. The driver circuit is coupled between a high side power rail and a low side power rail. There is a regulation circuit to regulate a high side voltage of the high side power rail such that the regulated high side voltage is independent of an input voltage at the input terminal.

Abstract: A power converter and method using a flying capacitor, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a driver circuit are presented. The first transistor is coupled between an input terminal and a first terminal of the flying capacitor. The second transistor is coupled between the first terminal of the flying capacitor and an output terminal. The third transistor is coupled between the output terminal and a second terminal of the flying capacitor. The fourth transistor is coupled between the second terminal of the flying capacitor and a reference potential. The driver circuit is coupled between a high side power rail and a low side power rail. There is a regulation circuit to regulate a high side voltage of the high side power rail such that the regulated high side voltage is independent of an input voltage at the input terminal.

Abstract: Power converters, charge pumps and methods which are capable of regulating output voltage are presented. A power converter has a capacitive element, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor. The first transistor is coupled between an input terminal and a first terminal of the capacitve element. The second transistor is coupled between the first terminal of the capacitve element and an output terminal. The third transistor is coupled between the output terminal and a second terminal of the capacitive element. The fourth transistor is coupled between the second terminal of the capacitive element and a reference potential. The power converter has a control circuit to control, during a first time interval of a voltage regulation mode, one of the four transistors such that the one of the four transistors is operated as a controllable power source for regulating an output voltage.

Abstract: A wired connection, such as USB-C, for charging a sink from a source, has a configuration channel and a power transmission channel. The presence of data on the configuration channel is used to determine that a cable has been disconnected from the power source. This charging system contains a capacitive power converter and a controller for controlling the capacitive power converter. There is also a configuration channel detector, which is arranged to detect the status of the configuration channel and to provide this status to the controller, so that the system can determine that the source has been detached from the bus when no configuration channel data is present.

Abstract: A wired connection, such as USB-C, for charging a sink from a source, has a configuration channel and a power transmission channel. The presence of data on the configuration channel is used to determine that a cable has been disconnected from the power source. This charging system contains a capacitive power converter and a controller for controlling the capacitive power converter. There is also a configuration channel detector, which is arranged to detect the status of the configuration channel and to provide this status to the controller, so that the system can determine that the source has been detached from the bus when no configuration channel data is present.