A Symmetrical Double Step-Down Converter With Extended Voltage Conversion Ratio

The Hybrid DC-DC converter, especially with multiple inductors targeting high current delivery, has the advantages of high efficiency and power density with a large voltage conversion ratio (VCR), due to the combination of the benefits of both switched-capacitor-based and inductor-based buck converters. However, a higher number of inductors means that the energizing time for each inductor has more limitations, resulting in a relatively narrower VCR range. To reduce the conduction loss and extend the voltage conversion ratio scope, this paper presents a symmetrical double step-down (SDSD) converter with a VCR range up to 1/3, regulating an output voltage interval of 0.5 V-0.8 V from a 2.7 V-4.2 V Lithium-ion battery. This converter, implemented in 65 nm CMOS, occupies a core active area of 1.53 mm2. This work obtains 86.5% peak efficiency and 326 mA/mm2 maximum current density, with an effective switching frequency of 3 MHz.