Open-Source Multilevel Converter Power IC Design and Test

• Published in: IEEE design and test Vol. 41; no. 6; pp. 19 - 27
• Main Authors: Marin, Jorge, Rojas, Christian A., Wilson-Veas, Alan H., Salvador, Nelson, Gak, Joel, Calarco, Nicolas, Miguez, Matias, Oliva, Alejandro R.
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Piscataway IEEE 01-12-2024; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Buck converters; Capacitors; Integrated circuits; Logic gates; Multilevel dc-dc converter; open-source PDK; open-source tool; Power integrated circuits; power integrated circuits design; power management; power management integrated circuit (PMIC); Silicon; Switches; three-level flying capacitor converter; Topology; Voltage
• ISSN: 2168-2356; 2168-2364
• DOI: 10.1109/MDAT.2024.3405892

Editor's notes: This article discusses the design, implementation, and validation of a power integrated circuit, specifically a three-level flying capacitor buck converter, using open-source tools and process design kits (PDKs), showcasing the feasibility of achieving efficient, low-cost designs for energy-constrained applications in technologies such as the Skywater 130-nm CMOS. -Matthew Guthaus, University of California at Santa Cruz, USA