Power signal combining method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the kth (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) signal, provides the predetermined fractional power contribution to the output power P o .

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, substantially comprises a direct-current power signal.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3, where n=3.

Claim 6

Apparatus for applying a plurality, k, of signals, (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) the plurality of signals comprising a first signal having a first magnitude V 1 , a second signal having a second magnitude V 2 , . . . , and an nth signal having an nth magnitude V n , the apparatus comprising: an inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output; a plurality n of switches, each switch arranged to controllably couple one and only one of the plurality of n signals to the inductor input; and control means for momentarily operating each of the plurality of n switches in sequence at a predetermined frequency, f, thus, for the kth signal, as k varies from 1 to n, first coupling the kth signal to the inductor input for a time interval t k , thereby storing an energy k in the inductor, and then de-coupling the kth signal from the inductor input, thereby allowing the energy k to dissipate at the inductor output, thus forming an output signal at the inductor output, the output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o in which the time interval t k is based on t k =((2 p k P o L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=a value of the inductor, V k =a magnitude of the kth signal: and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 7

Apparatus for applying a plurality, k, of signals, (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) the plurality of signals comprising a first signal having a first magnitude V 1 , a second signal having a second magnitude V 2 , . . . , and an nth signal having an nth magnitude V n , the apparatus comprising: an inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output; a plurality n of switches, each switch arranged to controllably couple one and only one of the plurality of n signals to the inductor input; and control means for momentarily operating each of the plurality of n switches in sequence at a predetermined frequency, f, thus, for the kth signal, as k varies from 1 to n, first coupling the kth signal to the inductor input for a time interval t k , thereby storing an energy k in the inductor, and then de-coupling the kth signal from the inductor input, thereby allowing the energy k to dissipate at the inductor output, thus forming an output signal at the inductor output, the output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o in which the time interval t k is based on t k =((2 p k P o L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=a value of the inductor, V k =a magnitude of the kth signal: and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, provides the predetermined fractional power contribution to the output power P o .

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, substantially comprises a direct-current power signal.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7, where n=3.

Claim 11

Apparatus for applying a plurality, k, of signals, (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) the plurality of signals comprising a first signal having a first magnitude V 1 , a second signal having a second magnitude V 2 , . . . , and an nth signal having an nth magnitude V n , the apparatus comprising: an inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output; a plurality n of switches, each switch arranged to controllably couple one and only one of the plurality of n signals to the inductor input; and each of the plurality of n switches being arranged to momentarily operate in sequence at a predetermined frequency, f, thus, for the kth signal, as k varies from 1 to n, first coupling the kth signal to the inductor input for a time interval t k , thereby storing an energy k in the inductor, and then de-coupling the kth signal from the inductor input, thereby allowing the energy k to dissipate at the inductor output, thus forming an output signal at the inductor output, the output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o in which the time interval t k is based on t k =((2 p k P o L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=a value of the inductor, V k =a magnitude of the kth signal; and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 12

Apparatus for applying a plurality, k, of signals, (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) the plurality of signals comprising a first signal having a first magnitude V 1 , a second signal having a second magnitude V 2 , . . . , and an nth signal having an nth magnitude V n , the apparatus comprising: an inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output; a plurality n of switches, each switch arranged to controllably couple one and only one of the plurality of n signals to the inductor input; and each of the plurality of n switches being arranged to momentarily operate in sequence at a predetermined frequency, f, thus, for the kth signal, as k varies from 1 to n, first coupling the kth signal to the inductor input for a time interval t k , thereby storing an energy k in the inductor, and then de-coupling the kth signal from the inductor input, thereby allowing the energy k to dissipate at the inductor output, thus forming an output signal at the inductor output, the output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o in which the time interval t k is based on t k =((2 p k P o L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=a value of the inductor, V k =a magnitude of the kth signal; and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, provides the predetermined fractional power contribution to the output power P o .

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, substantially comprises a direct-current power signal.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11, where n=3.

Claim 16

In an arrangement including a plurality, k, of signals, (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) the plurality of signals comprising a first signal having a first magnitude V 1 , a second signal having a second magnitude V 2 , and an nth signal having an nth magnitude V n , the arrangement including an inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output, a plurality n of switches, each switch arranged to controllably couple one and only one of the plurality of n signals to the inductor input, a method for combining the plurality of n signals, the method comprising the steps of: momentarily operating in sequence at a predetermined frequency, f, each of the plurality of n switches thus, for the kth signal, as k varies from 1 to n, first coupling the kth signal to the inductor input for a time interval t k , thereby storing an energy k in the inductor, and then de-coupling the kth signal from the inductor input, thereby allowing the energy k to dissipate at the inductor output, thus forming an output signal at the inductor output, the output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o , in which the time interval t k is based on t k =((2 p k L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=a value of the inductor, V k =a magnitude of the kth signal; and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 17

In an arrangement including a plurality, k, of signals, (where k sequentially assumes each value from 1 to n) the plurality of signals comprising a first signal having a first magnitude V 1 , a second signal having a second magnitude V 2 , and an nth signal having an nth magnitude V n , the arrangement including an inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output, a plurality n of switches, each switch arranged to controllably couple one and only one of the plurality of n signals to the inductor input, a method for combining the plurality of n signals, the method comprising the steps of: momentarily operating in sequence at a predetermined frequency, f, each of the plurality of n switches thus, for the kth signal, as k varies from 1 to n, first coupling the kth signal to the inductor input for a time interval t k , thereby storing an energy k in the inductor, and then de-coupling the kth signal from the inductor input, thereby allowing the energy k to dissipate at the inductor output, thus forming an output signal at the inductor output, the output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o , in which the time interval t k is based on t k =((2 p k L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=a value of the inductor, V k =a magnitude of the kth signal; and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, provides the predetermined fractional power contribution to the output power P o .

Claim 19

The method of claim 13, where each of the plurality of signals consisting of the first signal, the second signal, . . . , the nth signal, substantially comprises a direct-current power signal.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15, where n=3.

Claim 21

A buck-topology switching power supply arranged to combine a plurality, n, of signals from a like number of substantially direct-current power sources by means of a single inductor, the single inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output, the buck-topology switching power supply further including a controller arranged so that, as k varies from 1 to n, each signal k is coupled in sequence to the inductor input for a duty period t k at a predetermined frequency, f, thus forming at the inductor output an output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o , the controller further arranged so that each signal k provides a predetermined fractional power contribution to the output power P o and in which the duty period t k is based on t k =((2 p k P o L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=the value of the inductor, V k =the magnitude of the kth signal; and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.

Claim 22

A buck-topology switching power supply arranged to combine a plurality, n, of signals from a like number of substantially direct-current power sources by means of a single inductor, the single inductor having an inductor input and an inductor output, the buck-topology switching power supply further including a controller arranged so that, as k varies from 1 to n, each signal k is coupled in sequence to the inductor input for a duty period t k at a predetermined frequency, f, thus forming at the inductor output an output signal having an output voltage V o and an output power P o , the controller further arranged so that each signal k provides a predetermined fractional power contribution to the output power P o and in which the duty period t k is based on t k =((2 p k P o L n T)/(V k -V o ) 2 ) 1/2 where: T=1/f p k =a predetermined fractional power contribution for the kth signal, L=the value of the inductor, V k =the magnitude of the kth signal; and L and f are chosen so that each t k is less than T.