Universal Switched-Capacitor Converter for DC-DC, AC-DC, and DC-AC Applications

There exist many types and configurations of switched-capacitor converters. However, they are mainly designed for specific applications such as DC-DC or DC-AC (multilevel converters) power conversions. Consequently, they are inapplicable in situations that require multi-applications. A better alternative would be to develop SC converters that are of multi-functions. Different types of power conversions can be achieved by a generalized SC converter, and is possible to fabricate the proposed converter into an IC package. The manufacturing cost can be further reduced through a mass production process. Nevertheless, fundamental studies and clarifications on the feasibility of the idea are still required as relevant literature are not reported. In this work, a preliminary study on a universal SC converter is presented. By programming the control sequence of power switches, the proposed converter is capable of achieving DC-DC, AC-DC, and DC-AC power conversions, while having the properties of bi-directional power flow and variable conversion ratios. The detailed explanations of its circuit operations, control methodology, and basic design procedures, are discussed. Experimental results are included to verify the feasibility of the proposed converter for low voltage applications.