Control of integrated switched capacitor power converters

Driven by the emerging applications such as wireless sensors and self-powered biomedical implants, monolithic SC power converters have become a very attractive solution for on-chip power supplies. In this chapter, Section 12.1 first addresses the design challenges. To prepare the readers to fully understand the control and operation methods of these SC power converters, in Section 12.2, key design parameters and causing mechanisms of potential power losses are introduced. In Section 12.3, major control schemes for SC power converters are discussed. Focusing on reliability and inrush current issues, two-stage cascaded topologies are first explained. In order to adapt to variable input and output operation conditions, reconfigurable SC power converters are introduced. PFM and AG-AP control are then discussed to provide different regulation solutions at a wide range of load. To further suppress the ripples, improve the transient response and robustness, examples of interleaving regulations are provided. Many control schemes in the chapter can jointly operate to achieve optimal performance of an SC power converter.