Inverse charge current mode control core for DC-DC converters
This technology is a smarter control method for power converters — the circuits that regulate voltage in everything from laptops to electric vehicles. It works by continuously estimating how much electrical charge has flowed through the converter, combining output voltage and inductor current signals into a single control ramp, then using that ramp to decide precisely when to fire the next power pulse. This approach makes the converter respond faster to sudden load changes (like a processor spiking its power draw) and, when multiple converter phases are run in parallel, eliminates a common noise and timing problem that can cause control pulses to drop out entirely.
What you could build
A licensable control circuit or firmware core for DC-DC power converters used in high-performance computing hardware, EV powertrains, and telecom infrastructure; the primary buyers would be power management IC designers and converter module manufacturers.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense electronics primes and data center hardware suppliers with Virginia operations (e.g., supporting Northern Virginia's hyperscale data center corridor) would have direct interest in more efficient, noise-resilient power management ICs.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Syed Bari, Fred C. Lee, Qiang Li
- Granted
- June 2, 2020
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10673328
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.