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Switching capacitor PWM converter for fast-transient,

Energy & Power ElectronicsElectronics & SemiconductorsLab validated

This technology is a hybrid power converter that combines two well-established conversion techniques — switched-capacitor and pulse-width modulation — into a single circuit that operates in two phases within each switching cycle. The switched-capacitor phase kicks in briefly to handle sudden load changes with very fast response, while the PWM phase handles steady-state voltage regulation with high efficiency. The design can also run multiple converter branches in parallel, letting the system shed unused branches at light loads to save energy. It supports zero-voltage switching, which reduces heat and energy loss from the switching components.

What you could build

A high-efficiency DC-DC power converter module for computing, telecommunications, or industrial equipment power supplies; target buyers would be server power supply manufacturers, telecom infrastructure OEMs, and power management IC designers seeking drop-in efficiency improvements.

Who in Virginia should care

Defense and government IT contractors in Northern Virginia with dense server farms or embedded power electronics needs, as well as power electronics component suppliers serving the Mid-Atlantic defense and telecom markets.

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
Ming Xu, Ke Jin, Fred C. Lee
Granted
December 11, 2012
Status
Granted patent
Patent number
8331110

Ready to talk?

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.

VTIP contact coming shortly

Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.