A Design Methodology for High-Voltage, Highly-Integrated Switched-Capacitor Power Converters, and Implementation at 48 V-12 V, 23 W/cm³ and 93.5 % Peak Efficiency

In this work a design methodology and key considerations for high-voltage and highly-integrated switched-capacitor power converters is presented. The design methodology describes the power losses in high-voltage applications, where switching losses and gate-driver losses start becoming dominant compared to fully integrated, low voltage and low power applications. The design methodology is applicable for any highly-integrated switched-capacitor topology. To verify the design methodology a 48 V-12  V ladder switched-capacitor power converter in a 180 nm SOI BCD process, with external capacitors is implemented. The floating gate-drivers and a clock controller responsible for the power switch control are also presented. The peak efficiency of the proposed power converter is measured to be 93.5%, and 24.5 W maximum output power, resulting in a power density of 23 W/cm³.