The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2019
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2016
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Chih-Wei Chen, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Yogesh Kumar Ramadass, San Jose, CA (US);
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A method for operating a multi-level converter is disclosed. A multi-level converter is provided with a plurality of switches connected in series and a flying capacitor connected to switch nodes of the plurality of switches. The switch nodes are biased initially to a fraction of an input voltage when the input voltage is initially applied to the plurality of switches. The flying capacitor is then precharged to a flying capacitor operating voltage. The multi-level converter is then operated after the flying capacitor is precharged by activating control signals to the plurality of switches. Diversion of precharge current by the plurality of switches may be performed while the flying capacitor is being precharged.