Transformerless DC-to-DC converters with large conversion ratios

A novel switching DC-to-DC converter is introduced in which large voltage step-down ratios can be achieved without a very small duty ratio and without a transformer. The circuit is an extension of the Cuk converter to incorporate a multistage capacitor divider. A particularly suitable application would be a 50 V to 5 V converter in which DC isolation is not required. The absence of a transformer and a larger duty ratio permits operation at a high switching frequency and makes the circuit amenable to partial integration and hybrid construction techniques. An experimental 50 W three-stage voltage divider Cuk converter converts 50 V to 5 V at 500 kHz, with an efficiency higher than that for a basic Cuk converter operated at the same conditions. A corresponding voltage-multiplier Cuk converter is described, as well as dual buck-boost-derived step-down and step-up converters