Patent ID: 7154250

Claim:
Apparatus for converting power from an input source at an input voltage for delivery to an output at an output voltage, comprising: first and second switches adapted to be connected to a first terminal of an inductor and a third switch adapted to be connected to a second terminal of the inductor, a switch controller adapted to operate the switches in a series of converter operating cycles, each converter operating cycle including, (i) an input (“IN”) phase during which the inductor is connected across the source for a time T IN , (ii) a input-output (“IO”) phase during which the inductor is connected between the source and the output for a time T IO , (iii) a free-wheel (“FW”) phase during which the inductor is connected across the output for a time T FW , (iv) a clamp (“CL”) phase during which the inductor is shorted for a time T CL , wherein the end of each converter operating cycle marks the beginning of another converter operating cycle.