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Charge Pump Power Converter

Energy-Active
Batteries and fuel cells

This invention comprises a series of 7 patents and patent applications with various European and Asian counterparts describing switched capacitor (charge pump) power converters. These converters accept electrical power from a primary energy source such as a battery and produce an output voltage of the level and polarity required by an electronic device attached to the output terminals. Unlike similar devices, these converters are self-clocked. This provides multiple benefits including increased operating efficiency, intrinsic output voltage regulation, reliable operation over a wide range of input voltages and output load currents, reduced EMI and output ripple, and the like. Certain of these converter circuits are intended for incorporation into battery management controllers that are embedded within a battery pack while others have more general utility.

Description/Details

The dynamic self-clocking scheme used in these converters employs a “flying” capacitor to transfer fixed increments of charge from the input energy source to the output load capacitor at whatever switching frequency is required to maintain a stable output voltage. Operating in this mode accommodates a wide range of input voltages while minimizing output ripple and EMI. The converter control circuitry further provides for a progressive (bootstrap) mode that allows reliable startup and operation at input voltages of less than 1V and for isolating the load from the energy source in case of fault conditions.

Applications

·Power conditioning for electronic devices and equipment

Benefits

·Self-clocked – no internal or external oscillator is required ·Step-up or step-down operation with automatic transitioning ·Intrinsic output voltage regulation ·Wide input dynamic range (High PSRR) ·Non-Inverting or inverting operation ·Reduced output ripple and EMI ·High operating efficiency

Reference #

CV20
CV21
CV23
CV24
CV25
CV26
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