Power supply circuit having switched capacitor units

Abstract

The invention relates to a power supply circuit () and methods for supplying electrical power to at least one load output. The circuit comprises a main power supply unit () with a voltage input (), a main switching element () and a reactive element (). The switching element () is controllable to deliver an output voltage or current (I out). Output units () with load outputs are connected to a main power supply unit (). In order to drive loads connected to the load outputs, e.g. LEDs, OLEDs or laser diodes, with exact pulses, each output unit () has a load switching element () to connect or disconnect the main power supply unit () to or from the load output. There are further provided switched capacitor units (), each with a capacitor (C) and a capacitor switching element (). The capacitor units may be operated such that the capacitors remain essentially charged at different voltage levels. According to a second aspect of the invention, each output unit () has a switched capacitor unit () with a capacitor (C) and a capacitor switching element () connected to the load output. The load switching element () and the capacitor switching elements () are controlled synchronously.