IP Verse

Protection Of Switched Capacitor Power Converter

Patent No. US12113438 (titled "Protection Of Switched Capacitor Power Converter") was filed by Psemi Corp on Jan 29, 2021.

What is this patent about?

’438 is related to the field of switched capacitor power converters , also known as charge pumps. These converters use capacitors and switches to step up or step down a voltage. A common problem is protecting the switches, which are often low-voltage transistors, from overvoltage or overcurrent conditions that can occur during transient events or faults, potentially damaging the converter.

The underlying idea behind ’438 is to monitor voltages and currents at internal nodes within the switched capacitor converter to detect fault conditions. By observing these parameters, the system can identify deviations from expected behavior, indicating a potential problem. This allows for proactive measures to be taken to protect the converter's components.

The claims of ’438 focus on a fault detector integrated with a voltage converter . The fault detector senses voltage or current at an internal node between switches and capacitors. It identifies fault events during converter operation and generates fault signals. The internal node is directly connected to at least two switches and one capacitor.

In practice, the invention involves measuring the voltage or current at a point where a switch connects to a capacitor. If this measurement falls outside a predetermined range, it triggers a fault signal. This signal can then be used to activate protection mechanisms, such as disconnecting the input voltage or modifying the switching sequence, preventing damage to the low-voltage transistors.

This approach differs from prior solutions that might only monitor the input or output voltage. By monitoring internal nodes, ’438 can detect a wider range of fault conditions more quickly and accurately. For example, it can detect a shorted capacitor or a switch that is not operating correctly, allowing for a faster and more effective response to protect the charge pump .

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2010s when ’438 was filed, switched capacitor power converters were at a time when X was typically implemented using Y. Specifically, charge pumps were commonly used for voltage conversion, and designers often sought to minimize the voltage rating requirements of switch elements to enable the use of lower-voltage transistors. At this time, hardware or software constraints made B non-trivial. Specifically, protecting these converters from fault conditions, such as capacitor shorts or over-voltage events, required careful monitoring and control of internal voltages and currents.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the prior art failed to disclose a voltage converter configured to sense voltage or current at an internal node. This voltage converter includes switches connected in series between input and output terminals, selectively charging or discharging capacitors in successive stages. The internal node is located between a pair of switches, and a fault detector identifies fault events at this node during operation, generating fault signals. The prior art also did not disclose a fault detector configured to detect a fault event at an internal node disposed between a first pair of switches within the switching configuration of the charge pump, wherein the fault detector is configured to, in response to detecting the fault event at the internal node, generate a fault signal. The prior art also did not disclose wherein the internal node is directly connected to at least two of the switches and one of the capacitors.

Claims

This patent contains 40 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 11, 21, and 31. The independent claims are generally directed to integrated circuits and fault detectors associated with voltage converters or charge pumps, focusing on detecting fault events at internal nodes. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the specific configurations, functionalities, and detection methods of the fault detectors and integrated circuits described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Fault Detector
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 21, Claim 31)		“In one aspect, in general, transient or fault conditions for a switched capacitor power converter are detected by measuring one or more of internal voltages and/or currents associated with switching elements (e.g., transistors) or phase nodes, or voltages or currents at terminals of the converter, and based on these measurements detect that a condition has occurred when the measurements deviate from a predetermined range. Upon detection of the condition fault control circuitry alters operation of the converter, for example, by using a high voltage switch to electrically disconnect at least some of the switching elements from one or more terminals of the converter, or by altering timing characteristics of the phase signals.”A circuit or module that detects fault events, such as over-voltage or over-current conditions, in a voltage converter or charge pump.
Fault Signal
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 21, Claim 31)		“Upon detection of the condition fault control circuitry alters operation of the converter, for example, by using a high voltage switch to electrically disconnect at least some of the switching elements from one or more terminals of the converter, or by altering timing characteristics of the phase signals.”An electrical signal generated by the fault detector in response to detecting a fault event, indicating that an abnormal condition has occurred.
Internal Node
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 21, Claim 31)		“In one aspect, in general, transient or fault conditions for a switched capacitor power converter are detected by measuring one or more of internal voltages and/or currents associated with switching elements (e.g., transistors) or phase nodes, or voltages or currents at terminals of the converter, and based on these measurements detect that a condition has occurred when the measurements deviate from a predetermined range.”A point within the voltage converter or charge pump circuit, specifically located between a first pair of switches.
Successive Stages
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 21, Claim 31)		“Charge pumps step up or step down an input voltage by storing a fraction of the input voltage across each capacitor. As the magnitude of the voltage conversion increases, the number of capacitors required increases. Switches on both terminals of each capacitor are necessary to perform the charge transfer, as well as configure the charge pump to provide a desired voltage conversion ratio.”The sequential steps or phases of operation in a voltage converter or charge pump where capacitors are charged and discharged according to the switching configuration.
Switching Configuration
(Claim 1, Claim 11, Claim 21, Claim 31)		“Various configurations of switched capacitor power conversion circuits provide voltage conversion (i.e., step up, step down, or bidirectional) between a high side voltage and a low side voltage through controlled transfers of charge between capacitors in the circuit. A Dickson charge pump is an example of such a conversion circuit. Control of the charge transfer between the capacitors generally makes use of circuit elements that act as “switches,” for example, diodes or FET transistors.”The arrangement and operation of switches within a voltage converter or charge pump to selectively charge and discharge capacitors in successive stages to convert an input voltage to an output voltage.

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US12113438

PSEMI CORP
Application Number
US17163323
Filing Date
Jan 29, 2021
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Mar 15, 2033
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents