Patent ID: 7400118

Claim:
A high efficiency single-inductor dual-control loop power converter (SIDL) for converting, as referenced to a power ground, an unregulated DC input into a regulated DC output to a power load, the DSPC comprising: a first energy storage loop further comprising: a single power inductor having an input side and an output side with the output side in series connection to the power load; a power capacitor coupling the output side to the power ground; and a power diode bridging the input side to the power ground; a first switching power regulating means interposed between the unregulated DC input and the input side, for controllably converting the unregulated DC input into the regulated DC output while sensing a power regulation at the power load; and a second power-efficiency maximizing loop in parallel connection with the power diode, having no inductive component therein, for shunting a portion of an electrical current thus power loss through the power diode the power-efficiency maximizing loop further comprises: a power shunt transistor in parallel connection with the power diode; and a real-time control loop adjusting, in response to a sensed freewheeling current through the power diode, the conductance of the power shunt transistor whereby maximize the overall power efficiency of the SIDL regardless of the power level delivered to the power load.