Development of Buck-Boost DC-DC Converter for USB Power Delivery 3.1

• Programme: Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITS/195/22FP)
• Project Title: Development of Buck-Boost DC-DC Converter for USB Power Delivery 3.1
• Project Coordinator: Prof Leung Ka Nang Alex (Dept. of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
• Project Period: 2024-02-01 to 2026-07-31
• Sponsor: Huawei Tech. Investment Co., Limited
• Abstract: The objective of this project is to develop an advanced buck-boost dc-dc converter to fulfill the voltage and power needs for the newly launched USB power delivery (PD) 3.1 standard released in June 2021. The proposed hybrid structure makes use of the properties of switch-capacitor and switch-inductor dc-dc converters, such that the current stress of the power inductor can be reduced by sharing part of the inductor current with the flying capacitors. Thus, the conduction loss at the dc resistance (DCR) of the power inductor can be substantially decreased. This property relaxes the selection of the type of power inductor used in the dc-dc converter, such that a low-cost low-profile but high-DCR power inductor can be used to fit into the thin portable electronic devices. The impact of the project is to promote the newly released USB PD 3.1 standard for electronic devices, such that a single cable can be used to achieve data communications and much higher power transfer to 48V/240W. The key benefit to mankind is to save more energy and thus to reduce carbon-dioxide emission for slowing down the damages to our environment.