Patent ID: 7948221

Claim:
An electric power converter of a switched capacitance type, comprising: a first input-output part; an inductor connected with either a positive electrode side or a negative electrode side of the first input-output part; a plurality of switches; a plurality of capacitors which are connected in series; a second input-output part connected with the plurality of capacitors; and a control circuit adapted to make ON/OFF control of the plurality of switches in accordance with mode of operation to selectively use the inductor and the plurality of capacitors to provide any operation out of step-up, step-down, regeneration, and electrical continuity, wherein the control circuit is adapted to control the mode of operation of two of the switches out of the plurality of switches in Modes 1 , 2 , and 3 , in the following sequence: Mode 1 , Mode 2 , Mode 1 , Mode 3 , Mode 1 , Mode 2 , Mode 1 , Mode 3 , and so on, wherein during the Mode 1 , which extends for a first predetermined time period, the two switches are simultaneously turned ON, during Mode 2 , which extends for a second predetermined time period, one of the two switches is turned ON and the other of the two switches is turned OFF, and during Mode 3 , which extends for a third predetermined time period, the one of the two switches is turned OFF and the other of the two switches is turned ON.