Patent attributes
A switched capacitor power converter includes active semiconductor switch elements that are configured to electrically interconnect capacitors to one another in successive states. Switch driving circuits, each with a control input, power connections, and a drive output are coupled to and for control of one or more of the switch elements. At least some switch driving circuits are configured to be from one or more of the capacitors such that the voltage across power connections of said driving circuit is substantially less than a high voltage terminal of the converter. In some examples, the switch elements are configured to interconnect at least some capacitors to one another through a series of multiple of the switch elements. In some examples, the switch elements and capacitors are configured to form multiple distinct charge transfer paths between the first terminal and the second terminal, and at least some of the switch driving circuits that control switch elements of one of the distinct charge transfer paths are powered from capacitors of one or more other charge transfer paths.
