Wide-range conversion ratio control for series-capacitor buck
This patent describes a smarter way to control a type of DC-to-DC power converter called a symmetric series-capacitor buck converter. By carefully sequencing when each switch in the converter's two parallel circuit legs turns on — staggering them in a specific order within each power cycle — the controller can achieve a wider range of output voltages from a given input than conventional control methods allow. This extended conversion ratio means the converter can step down voltage more aggressively or flexibly, which matters in applications where input and output voltages differ significantly. The innovation is essentially in the control algorithm and switching sequence, not new hardware.
What you could build
A power module or chipset for data center power delivery and high-performance computing systems that needs to step down 48V bus power to very low processor voltages efficiently; target buyers are server power module manufacturers and hyperscale data center hardware teams.
Who in Virginia should care
Data center operators and power electronics firms in Northern Virginia's dense hyperscale corridor (AWS, Microsoft, Meta facilities) would have direct interest in efficient 48V point-of-load conversion technology.
Readiness: Concept
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
- Xinmiao Xu, Qiang Li
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed March 24, 2025
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20250300567A1
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.