Patent ID: 9647548
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: H02M,Y02B

Claim:
1. A method comprising: in a charging cycle of a power converter circuit, connecting a plurality of capacitors in series between input nodes of the power converter circuit, wherein the power converter circuit further comprises a plurality of converter cells, with each converter cell being connected to one of the plurality of capacitors; after the charging cycle and before activating at least one of the plurality of converter cells, reducing an electrical potential at a first input node of the at least one of the plurality of converter cells by switching on a ground switch of at least one other of the plurality converter cells, with the ground switch being connected between a second input node of the other one of the plurality of converter cells and a ground node; and activating the at least one of the plurality of converter cells to transfer electrical power from the capacitor connected to the at least one of the plurality of converter cells to an output of the power converter circuit.