US Patent 11533049 Pre-charge techniques for a multi-level flying capacitor converter

A circuit includes first and second transistors, a capacitor, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the control inputs of the first and second transistors. The controller configured to, during a first mode and in accordance with a first time-varying duty cycle, turn on and off the first transistor while turning on the second transistor when the first transistor is off. The controller is also configured to, during a second mode following the first mode, and in accordance with a second time-varying duty cycle, turn on and off the first transistor while turning on the second transistor when the first transistor is off.