DC/DC converter efficiency improvement for low current levels

摘要

The present document relates to efficient DC/DC converters with a modular structure for providing different levels of output currents. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage is described. The power converter comprises first and second inverter stages comprising high side switches and low side switches which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage. The midpoints between the high side switches and the low side switches are coupled. The electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint. The controller is configured to determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and to activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage.

主权项

1. A controller for controlling a power converter which is configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage into electrical power at an output voltage, wherein the power converter comprises a first inverter stage comprising a first high side switch and a first low side switch which are arranged in series between the input voltage and a reference voltage; wherein the power converter further comprises a second inverter stage comprising a second high side switch and a second low side switch which are arranged in series between the input voltage and the reference voltage; wherein a midpoint between the first high side switch and the first low side switch is coupled with a midpoint between the second high side switch and the second low side switch; and wherein the electrical power at the output voltage is drawn from the midpoint; wherein the power converter comprises a pre-determined number N of inverter stages, N>1; wherein the controller is configured to
determine an indication of a requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, and activate or deactivate the second inverter stage based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage; determine a default number n of active inverter stages based on the indication of the requested level of the electrical power at the output voltage, with 0