Described examples include DC to DC converters and systems with switching circuitry formed by four series-connected switches, inductors connected between the ends of the switching circuitry and corresponding output nodes, and with a flying capacitor coupled across interior switches of the switching circuitry and a second capacitor coupled across the ends of the switching circuitry. A control circuit operates the switching circuit to control a voltage signal across the output nodes using a first clock signal and a phase shifted second clock signal to reduce output ripple current and enhance converter efficiency using valley current control. The output inductors are wound on a common core in certain examples.

An adaptive duty cycle limiting circuit is used with a switching DC-to-DC converter for preventing the duty cycle entering a region of operation having negative gain. The adaptive duty cycle limiting circuit includes a duty cycle ramp signal generator, a voltage source for providing a voltage having a fractional value of an input voltage source, and a comparator that compares the duty cycle ramp signal with the fractional value of the input voltage source. When the voltage level of the duty cycle ramp signal is less than the fractional value of the voltage source, a cycle limit signal is activated and communicated to a switching control circuit to adjust the duty cycle of the switching DC-to-DC converter to prevent the duty cycle entering the region of operation where the gain of the switching DC-to-DC converter becomes negative.

A switching mode power supply that supplies power to a load. The circuitry of the power supply of this disclosure may be configured to operate with a constant switching frequency over a range of input voltages and a range of load power demand. The circuitry of this disclosure may modulate a minimum on-time (Ton-min) for a duty cycle for an operating frequency of the circuit based on the magnitude of the input voltage. The circuitry may also operate in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) based on an operating region. The operating region is based on a combination of the demand from the load (Iout) and the input voltage (Vin). The circuitry of this disclosure may enter an operating region based on a first combination but exit the operating region under a second and different combination of Iout and Vin.

A switching mode power supply that supplies power to a load. The circuitry of the power supply of this disclosure may be configured to operate with a constant switching frequency over a range of input voltages and a range of load power demand. The circuitry of this disclosure may modulate a minimum on-time (Ton-min) for a duty cycle for an operating frequency of the circuit based on the magnitude of the input voltage. The circuitry may also operate in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) based on an operating region. The operating region is based on a combination of the demand from the load (Iout) and the input voltage (Vin). The circuitry of this disclosure may enter an operating region based on a first combination but exit the operating region under a second and different combination of Iout and Vin.

An adaptive duty cycle limiting circuit is used with a switching DC-to-DC converter for preventing the duty cycle entering a region of operation having negative gain. The adaptive duty cycle limiting circuit includes a duty cycle ramp signal generator, a voltage source for providing a voltage having a fractional value of an input voltage source, and a comparator that compares the duty cycle ramp signal with the fractional value of the input voltage source. When the voltage level of the duty cycle ramp signal is less than the fractional value of the voltage source, a cycle limit signal is activated and communicated to a switching control circuit to adjust the duty cycle of the switching DC-to-DC converter to prevent the duty cycle entering the region of operation where the gain of the switching DC-to-DC converter becomes negative.

A method for providing two mutually different electrical DC voltages, wherein a first of the two DC voltages, which has a greater voltage value than a second of the two DC voltages, is provided by means of a clocked energy converter by using a converter switching unit of the energy converter to apply electrical energy from an electrical energy source to a storage inductor of the energy converter and to supply an electric current of the storage inductor to a first electrical capacitor at which the first DC voltage is provided. The operation of the converter switching unit is controlled depending on a result of a first comparison of the first DC voltage with a first voltage comparison value.

A method for providing two mutually different electrical DC voltages, wherein a first of the two DC voltages, which has a greater voltage value than a second of the two DC voltages, is provided by means of a clocked energy converter by using a converter switching unit of the energy converter to apply electrical energy from an electrical energy source to a storage inductor of the energy converter and to supply an electric current of the storage inductor to a first electrical capacitor at which the first DC voltage is provided. The operation of the converter switching unit is controlled depending on a result of a first comparison of the first DC voltage with a first voltage comparison value.

In some examples, a circuit includes a first power converter cell and a second power converter cell. The first power converter cell has a first bidirectional interface. The first power converter cell is configured to switch power from the first bidirectional interface to a second bidirectional interface in a first operation mode. The second power converter cell has a third bidirectional interface. The second power converter cell is configured to switch power from the third bidirectional interface to the second bidirectional interface in the first operation mode in parallel with the first power converter cell.

In some examples, a circuit includes a first power converter cell and a second power converter cell. The first power converter cell has a first bidirectional interface. The first power converter cell is configured to switch power from the first bidirectional interface to a second bidirectional interface in a first operation mode. The second power converter cell has a third bidirectional interface. The second power converter cell is configured to switch power from the third bidirectional interface to the second bidirectional interface in the first operation mode in parallel with the first power converter cell.

A switching mode power supply that supplies power to a load. The circuitry of the power supply of this disclosure may be configured to operate with a constant switching frequency over a range of input voltages and a range of load power demand. The circuitry of this disclosure may modulate a minimum on-time (Ton-min) for a duty cycle for an operating frequency of the circuit based on the magnitude of the input voltage. The circuitry may also operate in continuous conduction mode (CCM) or in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) based on an operating region. The operating region is based on a combination of the demand from the load (Iout) and the input voltage (Vin). The circuitry of this disclosure may enter an operating region based on a first combination but exit the operating region under a second and different combination of Iout and Vin.