Patent ID: 8901897
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: H02M

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a DC (‘Direct Current’)-DC converter, the DC-DC converter comprising: a directly coupled inductor comprising a first coil element and a second coil element, the first coil element and second coil element coupled to an output filter and a load; and a plurality of power-switching phases comprising: a first power-switching phase comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch, wherein the high-side switch of the first power-switching phase is configured, when activated, to couple a voltage source to the first coil element and the low-side switch of the first power-switching phase is configured, when activated, to couple the first coil element to a ground voltage; and a second power-switching phase comprising a high-side switch and a low-side switch, wherein the high-side switch of the second power-switching phase is configured, when activated, to couple the voltage source to the second coil element and the low-side switch of the second power-switching phase is configured, when activated, to couple the second coil element to the ground voltage; wherein the method comprises: alternatively activating each switch, wherein no two switches are activated at the same time; wherein alternatively activating each switch further comprises: activating each high-side switch for a period of time according to: where D represents a duty cycle and N represents the number of power-switching phases; and activating each low-side switch for a period of time according to: