US Patent 10530256 Multi-level buck converter with reverse charge capability

Power converters and method with reverse charge capability are presented. A power converter operates either in a buck mode for transferring electrical power from a first terminal of the power converter to a second terminal of the power converter, or in a boost mode for transferring electrical power from the second terminal of the power converter to the first terminal of the power converter. The power converter has several switching elements, a flying capacitor, an inductor, and a control unit. The switching elements couple the first terminal of the power converter and the flying capacitor, couple the first terminal of the flying capacitor and a first terminal of the inductor, couple the first terminal of the inductor and a second terminal of the flying capacitor and couple the second terminal of the flying capacitor and a reference potential. The control unit controls the switching elements.