US 11,955,884 B2
Resonant switching power converter circuit
Kuo-Chi Liu, Hsinchu (TW); Ta-Yung Yang, Taoyuan (TW); and Chung-Lung Pai, Hsinchu (TW)
Assigned to Richtek Technology Corporation, Zhubei (TW)
Filed by Richtek Technology Corporation, Zhubei (TW)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/719,568.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/188,126, filed on May 13, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 111111733 (TW), filed on Mar. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2022/0368218 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. H02M 3/07 (2006.01); H02M 1/36 (2007.01); H02M 3/00 (2006.01); H02M 3/158 (2006.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 3/07 (2013.01) [H02M 1/36 (2013.01); H02M 3/01 (2021.05); H02M 3/158 (2013.01); H02M 1/0095 (2021.05)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A resonant switching power converter circuit which is configured to convert a first power to a second power or to convert the second power to the first power, wherein the first power includes a first voltage and a first current and the second power includes a second voltage and a second current, the resonant switching power converter circuit comprising:
at least one switching converter;
a control circuit, configured to control the switching converter; and
a pre-charge circuit, coupled between the control circuit and the at least one switching converter;
wherein the switching converter includes:
a plurality of capacitors;
a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of capacitors, the plurality of switches being controlled by the control circuit to switch coupling relationships of the plurality of capacitors;
at least one first inductor, which is connected in series with at least a corresponding one of the plurality of capacitors; and
at least one second inductor, which is connected in series with at least a corresponding one of the plurality of capacitors;
wherein the control circuit is coupled to the first power, the second power, and the plurality of switches, wherein when the switching converter operates in a pre-charge mode, the control circuit is configured to control a first switch of the plurality of switches to control a coupling relationship between the first power and a first capacitor of the plurality of capacitors, and is configured to control the other switches of the plurality of switches so that when one or more of the plurality of capacitors has a voltage drop which is lower than a predetermined voltage, the pre-charge circuit charges the one or more capacitors to the predetermined voltage;
wherein the first switch is coupled between the first power and the first capacitor;
wherein in a start-up mode, a first control signal and at least one second control signal operate the plurality of switches to switch coupling relationships of capacitors coupled to the plurality of switches, such that after the pre-charge mode ends, the resonant switching power converter circuit operates in the start-up mode;
wherein in the start-up mode, the first control signal and the at least one second control signal have respective ON periods which do not overlap one another, and time lengths of the ON periods increase gradually;
wherein in a resonant voltage conversion mode, the first control signal and the at least one second control signal operate the plurality of switches to switch coupling relationships of capacitors coupled to the plurality of switches, such that after the start-up mode ends, the resonant switching power converter circuit operates in the resonant voltage conversion mode, to convert the first power to the second power or to convert the second power to the first power;
wherein in the resonant voltage conversion mode, the first control signal and the at least one second control signal have respective ON periods which do not overlap one another, such that a first process of the resonant voltage conversion mode and a second process of the resonant voltage conversion mode do not overlap each other;
wherein in the first process, the first control signal operates the plurality of switches so that a series connection of the plurality of capacitors which is further connected in series to the first inductor is formed between the first power and the second power, so as to form a first current path, whereas, in the second process, the at least one second control signals operate the plurality of switches so that each of the plurality of capacitors is individually connected in series to a corresponding one of the second inductors, so as to form plural second current paths concurrently or sequentially;
wherein the first process and the second process are performed in a repeated and alternating manner, so as to convert the first power to the second power or to convert the second power to the first power.