CAREER: Next-Generation Integrated Hybrid DC-DC Converters for Future More-DC World

在当今的现代住宅和商业建筑中，电气负载快速增长为更原生的直流（DC）负载，包括计算机、智能手机、相机、智能家居设备、LED灯泡、信息屏幕、电视、微波炉和其他电器等。为了优化效率并保持电网、DC源和能量缓冲器的可靠性，例如太阳能和其它可再生能源、车辆电池和其它单独的电池以前所未有的速度集成。虽然这些电气组件本质上是直流电（DC），但它们仍然需要与我们家中和建筑物中的传统交流（AC）电源线连接，导致电力输送效率低下（总功耗损失10%-30%），空间利用率低下，并且许多AC-DC适配器的总系统成本增加了10%-15%。此外，商业建筑和家庭中110-220伏的交流配电也带来了安全问题，特别是对儿童来说，因为交流墙壁插座和电线分别造成12岁及以下儿童受伤的15%和63%。这种综合研究和教育职业发展的目标是促进更快的发展，并增加采用直流微/纳米电网，以在更多的直流世界中的住宅和商业用途中实现更有效的直流配电，通过实现下一代集成混合DC-DC电源转换器系列，并为多个重要应用提供示范。这些转换器旨在实现上级效率、更小的尺寸和更低的系统成本，从而减少低效AC-DC转换的数量和影响。该研究计划位于集成电路和电力电子的边界，旨在实现转换器技术，集成电路设计，集成封装和直流电源管理和交付系统集成的根本性进步，适用于数十亿家庭和办公设备。研究成果可以应用于许多应用，包括移动的电池充电器、移动的计算、数据中心、DC-Chomes/DC建筑、汽车、电机驱动和LED照明，并在提高电源管理和传输的效率和密度方面产生积极影响。研究计划的一个重要组成部分是通过培训和美国圣地亚哥研究生和本科生的参与，将基础研究与集成电力电子和能源效率领域的教育相结合，具体的外展模块将吸引K-12学生和公众参与这一重要的STEM领域，并将研究课题和研究结果整合到课程中的教学活动。 为了实现研究目标，本职业建议书的目标是：（1）研究并实现基于新颖的单电感器多同步级（西姆斯）DC-DC转换器架构的具有高输入电压和大转换比的可扩展集成转换器，该DC-DC转换器架构可以有效地从高输入电压提供大转换比，以便最小化AC-DC转换的数量和影响，（2）研究和设计使用集成硅电容器的集成封装程序，以从根本上降低配电损耗并提高系统效率和功率密度，（3）推广中值平均分析（MAA）方法，并使用它来提供更准确，混合DC-DC转换器的直观建模和控制为了弥合理解混合转换器的核心操作和控制方面的关键知识差距，（4）通过本项目中开发的集成转换器原型，演示和评估使用单个AC/DC转换器为多个DC负载供电的DC纳米电网的可行性，以及（5）在多个示例应用中演示集成电力输送系统，包括电池充电器、移动的和高性能计算以及DC家庭/DC建筑物配电。这一全面的努力使重要的创新和根本性的进步，推动两个领域的边界，集成电路（具有高输入电压，高功率和电流密度）和电力电子（具有大的直接降压和集成混合架构）。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

In modern residential and commercial buildings today, electrical loads are growing fast to be more native direct-current (DC) loads, including computers, smartphones, cameras, smart-home devices, LED lightbulbs, information screens, televisions, microwave oven, and other appliances, etc. To optimize efficiency and maintain the reliability of the electric grid, DC sources and energy buffers, such as solar energy and other renewable energy sources, vehicle batteries, and other separate batteries are integrated at an unprecedented rate. While these electrical components are direct-current (DC) in nature, they still need to interface with the legacy alternating-current (AC) power line in our home and building, leading to inefficiencies in power delivery (10%-30% loss in total power consumption), space utilization, and added 10%-15% overall system cost for many AC-DC adapters. In addition, AC distribution at 110-220 volts in commercial buildings and households also poses a safety concern especially for children as AC wall outlets and cords are responsible for 15% and 63% of injuries, respectively, in children aged 12 years and younger. The goal of this integrated research and education career development is to facilitate faster developments and increase adoption of DC micro-/nano-grids for more efficient DC distribution in residential and commercial use in a More-DC world, by realizing a next-generation integrated hybrid DC-DC power converter family with demonstrations for multiple important applications. The converters are designed to achieve superior efficiencies, smaller sizes, and lower system cost that can reduce the number and impact of inefficient AC-DC conversions. The research program, positioned at the boundary of integrated circuits and power electronics, aims at fundamental advancements in converter technologies, integrated circuit designs, integrated packaging, and system integration for DC power management and delivery, applicable in billions of home and office devices. The research outcomes can be applied and create positive impacts in improving efficiency and density of power management and delivery in many applications, including mobile battery chargers, mobile computing, data centers, DChomes/DC-buildings, automotive vehicles, motor drive, and LED lightings. A significant part of the research program is to integrate fundamental research with education in the area of integrated power electronics and energy efficiency through training and involvement of US San Diego graduate and undergraduate students, specific outreach modules that will engage and attract K-12 students and the general public to this important STEM area, and teaching activities that integrate research topics and findings in the curriculum. To achieve the research goal, the objectives of this CAREER proposal are to: (1) investigate and implement scalable integrated converters with high input voltage and large conversion ratio based on a novel single-inductor multi-synchronous stage (SIMS) DC-DC converter architecture that can efficiently provide large conversion ratios from high input voltages in order to minimize the number and impact of AC-DC conversions, (2) study and design integrated packaging procedures using integrated silicon capacitors to fundamentally reduce distribution loss and improve the system efficiency and power density, (3) generalize the median-average analysis (MAA) methodology, and use it to provide more accurate, intuitive model and control of hybrid DC-DC converters in order to bridge key knowledge gaps in understanding core operations and control of hybrid converters, (4) demonstrate and evaluate the feasibility of a DC nano-grid using a single AC/DC converter to supply multiple DC loads through the integrated converter prototypes developed in this project, and (5) demonstrate the integrated power delivery systems in a number of example applications, including battery charger, mobile and highperformance computing, and DC-home/DC-building power distribution. This comprehensive effort enables important innovations and fundamental advances to push the boundary of two areas, integrated circuits (with high input voltages, high power and current density) and power electronics (with large direct step-down, and integrated hybrid architecture).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.