Dc-dc switching cell modules for on-board power systems

Abstract

A DC-DC switching cell module includes a switch, a rectifier, an output filter coupled to the rectifier, and an input port for receiving an external PWM control signal from a controller. The switching cell module is configured to control the switch in response to the external PWM control signal to generate a DC output voltage from a DC input voltage. The switching cell module is configured for attachment to a circuit board as a discrete component.

1 . A distributed power system comprising a centralized controller, a plurality of DC-DC switching cell modules, and a plurality of loads, each DC-DC switching cell module adapted to generate a DC output voltage from a DC input voltage, each DC-DC switching cell module including at least one switch, an output filter, an inductor coupled to the output filter, and an input port for receiving a PWM control signal from the centralized controller, a first DC-DC switching cell module of the plurality of DC-DC switching cell modules coupled to provide power to a first one of the plurality of loads, a second DC-DC switching cell module of the plurality of DC-DC switching cell modules coupled to provide power to a second one of the plurality of loads, the centralized controller configured to output a first PWM control signal to the input port of the first DC-DC switching cell module and a second PWM control signal to the input port of the second DC-DC switching cell module to thereby control the power provided to the first one and the second one of the plurality of loads.