Voltage regulator

Abstract

A voltage regulator can include: N energy storage capacitors, each having first nodes connected together, where N is a positive integer; N input capacitors connected in series between two nodes of an input port; N input switch circuits, each being connected in parallel with a corresponding one of the N input capacitors, where each of the N input switch circuits is configured to selectively couple a second node of a corresponding one of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of the corresponding input capacitor; and a first output switch circuit configured to selectively couple the first nodes of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of an output port.

1 . A voltage regulator, comprising:
 a) N energy storage capacitors, each having first nodes directly connected together, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;   b) N input capacitors;   c) N input switch circuits, connected in series between two nodes of an input port, and each being connected in parallel with a different one of the N input capacitors, wherein each of the N input switch circuits is configured to selectively couple a second node of a corresponding one of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of the corresponding input capacitor;   d) a first output switch circuit configured to selectively couple the first nodes of the N energy storage capacitors to a first node or a second node of an output port; and   e) wherein the N input switch circuits and the first output switch circuit are controlled to switch among different states such that an output voltage of the voltage regulator is proportional to an input voltage of the voltage regulator.   
     
     
         2 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first node or the second node of the output port is configured to be connected to a node that is connected to one of the N input capacitors. 
     
     
         3 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 1 , further comprising an isolation capacitor connected between the first node or the second node that is connected to one of the N input capacitors. 
     
     
         4 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second output switch circuit connected in parallel with the first output switch circuit, wherein the second output switch circuit is configured to selectively couple an input node of the second output switch circuit to the first node or the second node of the output port. 
     
     
         5 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 4 , wherein the input node of the second output switch circuit is connected to a node that is connected to one of the N input capacitors. 
     
     
         6 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 4 , further comprising an isolation capacitor connected between the input node of the second output switch circuit and a node that is connected to one of the N input capacitors. 
     
     
         7 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the N input switch circuits is a half-bridge circuit comprising first and second switches, wherein the first and second switches are complementary with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 7 , wherein the first output switch circuit is a half-bridge circuit comprising third and fourth switches, wherein the third and fourth switches are complementary with each other, and the third switch is in the same state as the first switch. 
     
     
         9 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 a) the first output switch circuit is a half-bridge circuit comprising third and fourth switches;   b) the second output switch circuit is a half-bridge circuit comprising fifth and sixth switches;   c) the third and fourth switches are complementary with each other;   d) the fifth and sixth switches are complementary with each other; and   e) the third switch is in the same state as the fifth switch.   
     
     
         10 . The voltage regulator according to  claim 1 , further comprising an output capacitor connected across the output port.