Representation and Design Methodology for Generalized Switched-Capacitor Converter Topologies

This paper presents a design methodology for generalized switched-capacitor (SC) converter topologies, structured around an explicit equation-based representation for topological circuit models. The proposed topology equations incorporate key principles for SC converter designs, including Kirchhoff’s voltage law (KVL), Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL) and charge balance. Specific rules and design constraints for SC converter topology generation are detailed in this paper. The optimization process and the derivation of performance metrics for both passive and active components are illustrated through detailed examples. Following the outlined design procedure, the methodology enables the realization of a general two-phase step-down SC converter with an arbitrary voltage conversion ratio. As a practical example, this paper introduces a novel 6:1 SC converter topology that reduces the theoretical passive component volume by 75% compared to the conventional Dickson converter. The proposed topology is demonstrated through a 48V-to-8V hardware prototype, which achieves a peak efficiency of over 98%, along with a 66% reduction in passive component volume and 44% increase in loss. The experimental results validate the representation model applied in the theoretical performance estimation.