Abstract

Mirror-symmetrical double-output voltages are specially required in industrial applications and

computer periphery circuits. Double output DC-DC converters can convert the positive input
source voltage to positive and negative output voltages by two conversion paths. Because of the
effect of parasitic elements, the output voltage and power-transfer efficiency of DC-DC
converters are limited. The voltage-lift technique is a popular method that is widely applied in
electronic circuit design. This technique gives a good way of improving circuit characteristics,
and has been successfully applied for DC-DC converters. As are single output (positive and
negative output) Luo converters, double-output Luo converters are a series of new DC-DC step-
up converters using only one switch. They are developed from prototypes using the advanced
voltage-lift technique. These converters perform from positive to positive and negative DC-DC
voltage-increase conversion with high power density, high efficiency and cheap topology in a
simple structure. They are different from any other existing DC-DC step-up converters and
possess many advantages including high output voltage with small ripples. Therefore, these
converters will be widely used in computer peripheral equipment and industrial applications,
especially for high double-output voltage projects.
 Double output Luo-converters
Further lift circuits can be derived from above circuits. In all D/O Luo-converters, each circuit
has two conversion paths – positive conversion path and negative conversion path.
The positive path likes positive output Luo-converters, and the negative path likes Negative
output Luo-converters. We define normalized impedance Z N +¿¿for positive path, and normalized
impedance Z N −¿ ¿.
We usually purposely select R = R1 and L = L11, so that we have zN = zN+ = zN-.
V O +¿
M= =¿ ¿ ¿
VI
so that Z N =Z N +¿=Z N−¿¿ ¿

Double output Luo-converter elementary circuit

Figure 3.1 Double output Luo-converter

The elementary circuit is shown have two circuits. Since the positive Luo-converters and
negative Luo-converter have been published, this section can be simplified.
 Positive Conversion Path

Figure 3. Equivalent circuits of elementary circuit positive path

The equivalent circuit during switch-on is shown as follows
Its output voltage and current is
V c 1=V k
O +¿= V ∧I ¿
1−k 1 0+ ¿= 1−k
k
I I +¿ ¿ ¿

The relationship of average voltage and current are

1−k
I L 2= I ∧I =I
k L1 L 2 0+¿¿
The positive path input current is
I O−¿=k I ¿
(
1+ ¿=k (i L1 + i L2 )=k 1+
1−k
k )
I L1 =IL 1 ¿

And
I 1−k
O−¿= I ¿
k 1−¿¿

So when k > 0.5, the out put voltage can be higher than the input voltage.
The voltage transfer gain in continues conduction mode is
V O+¿
M E= =¿ ¿ ¿
VI

The ratio of the output voltage V O +¿¿ in continues conduction mode is

ξ Δ i L 1/ 2 kT V I
+¿= = ¿
I L1 1−k R Δ i /2
2 I L 1 I 1+ ¿ = ∧¿ D 0 ¿
2 M E f L1 IL1

ξ Δ i L 2 /2 kT V I
2+¿= = ¿
IL2 k R
2 I L2 I 0+ ¿= ¿
2 M E f L2

The variation ratio of current i D 0is

ξ Δ i D 0 /2 2 V 0+ ¿
+¿= =(1−k) T ¿¿
I D0 k (1−k ) R k
2
R
2 LI 0+¿ = 2
= 2
¿
2M E fL 2ME f L 2

The variation ratio of output voltage V O +¿¿ is

ε V O + ¿/2
+ ¿= ¿¿
kT
2
VI
V O +¿ = ¿
8 C0 L2 k 1
V O+ ¿ = ¿
8 M E f 2C 0 L2

Negative Conversion Path

Figure 3. Equivalent circuits of elementary circuit negative path

The relationship of average voltage and current are
I 0−¿= I L 12 ∧I 0−¿=I =IC 11−ON ¿ ¿
L12

k k
¿ I c11−off = I c 11−off = I
1−k 1−k 0−¿¿
The positive path input current is
I O−¿=k I ¿
1−¿=k iL 11=k IL 11=
( 1−k
k
)I 0−¿ =I
L11
¿ ¿

The output voltage and current are

I 1−k
0−¿= I ¿
k −¿∧V 0−¿ =
k
v ¿
1−k 1
¿

So when k > 0.5, the out put voltage can be higher than the input voltage.
The voltage transfer gain in continues conduction mode is
M V O +¿
E −¿= =¿¿ ¿¿
VI

The ratio of the output voltage V O −¿ ¿ in continues conduction mode is

ξ Δ i L 2 /2 k 1
−¿= = ∧ρ /2 ¿
I L2 16 f 2 C 10 L12 −¿= Δ Vv c 11
=kT
I 0−¿
2 f C 11 R 1
¿¿
c 11

ξ Δ i L 2 /2 kT V I
2+¿= = ¿
IL2 k R
2 I L2 I 0+ ¿= ¿
2 M E f L2

The variation ratio of current i D 0is

ξ Δ i D 0 /2 K (1−k)V 1T
+¿= = 2
¿
I D0 k(1−k) R k R
2 L11 I 0−¿ = = 2
¿
2 M E f L 11 2 M E f L11

The variation ratio of output voltage V O +¿¿ is

ε
+ ¿=
( ΔV
2 )
C 10

=
k I 0−¿
¿¿
3
V C 10 128 f C 11 C 10 L12 V O−¿ ¿

Discontinuous conduction mode

This converter may work in discontinuous conduction mode if the frequency f, conduction duty
k, inductance L are small, and load current is high.
L1 L2
L= ¿ L ; R=R1 ; Z
L1+ L2 11 R
N +¿= ;Z
fL N−¿=
R1
¿
¿
fL 11

so that V 0=¿

Z N =Z N+ ¿=Z N −¿¿ ¿ and ζ =ζ +¿=ζ −¿¿ ¿

And the free-wheeling diode currents iD0 and iD10 become zero during switch
off before next period switch on. The boundary between continuous and
discontinuous modes is

k ZN
2
ζ ≥ 1→ 2
≥1
ME 2

So condition for discontinuous conduction mode is

ME≤ k
ZN
2 √
The output voltages in discontinuous conduction mode are

√
V O =¿ ¿ Z N ≥ k
2 1−k
The free-wheeling diode’s diode current exists in the period between kT and [k + (1 – k)mE]T,
where mE is the filling efficiency and it is defined as:
2
1 2M E
M E= = 2
ζ k ZN

Therefore ,0<mE<1. Since the diode current iD0 becomes zero at t = kT + (1 – k) mET, for the
current iL1 kTVI = (1 – k)mETVC or

V c 1=
k
(1−k )
Z
V I =k ( 1−k ) N V I with
2
ZN
≥
2 1−k
k
√
For iL2 kT(VI + VC1 – VO+) = (1 – k)mETVO+
So, the positive output voltage in discontinuous mode is
V
0 +¿=
k
(1−k )
V I =k ( 1−k )
ZN
V with
2 I √
ZN
≥
2 1−k
k
¿

For iL12 we have kTVI = (1 – k)mETVC11 or

V c 11=
k
(1−k )mE
Z Z
V I =k ( 1−k ) N V I with N ≥
2
k
2 1−k √
the current iL12 we have kT(VI + VC11 – VO–) = (1 – k)mETVO–
Therefore, the negative output voltage in discontinuous mode is
V
0−¿=
k
(1−k)mE
V I=k ( 1−k )
ZN
2 I
V with
√
ZN
≥
k
2 1−k O
,V =V ¿ ¿ ¿

the output voltage will linearly increase while load resistance increases. It can be seen that larger
load resistance may cause higher output voltage in discontinuous mode.
 Double output Luo-converter self-lift circuit
Self-lift circuit is derived from the elementary circuit. The positive conversion path consists of a
pump circuit S-L1-D0-C1, a filter(C2)-L2-CO, and a lift circuit D1-C2. The negative conversion path
consists of a pump circuit S-L11-D10-(C11), a “Π”-type filter C11-L12-C10, and a lift circuit D11-C12.

Figure 3.2 Double output Luo-converter self-lift circuit

Positive Conversion Path

The voltage across inductor L1 is equal to VI during switch-on, and –VC1 during switch-off. We
have the relations:

Figure 3. Equivalent circuits of self-lift circuit positive path

1
V c 1= V
1−k 1
Its output voltage and current is
 1
V O =V c 0=V c 2=V 1 +V c 1= V ∧I
1−k 1 O +¿=(1−k)I 1 +¿ ¿
¿

I I +¿=k I I +¿ ,i ¿ ¿
I+¿ =I +i ,i =(k
i )
L1 C 1−on C 1−off 1−k C 1−on
¿

I L 1=k i I +¿=i C 1−o ff =I I + ¿¿ ¿

The voltage transfer gain in continues conduction mode is

M V O+¿ 1
s +¿= =¿ ¿¿
VI 1−k

The variation ratio of the current V O −¿ ¿ in continues conduction mode is

ζ + ¿=ξ Δ i L1 /2 k 1
¿
+¿= = ∧ρ Δv /2 ¿
IL 1 16 f 2 C 2 L2 +¿=
c1
=(1−k )
I
1+¿
=
1
¿¿
( )
V k 2k f C R
c1 2fC V 1
1 1−k 1

σ Δ v c2 /2 k
1+¿= = ¿
V c2 2 f C2 R

ξ Δ i L 2 /2 kT V I
2+¿= = ¿
IL2 k R
2 I L2 I 0+ ¿= ¿
2 M E f L2

The variation ratio of current i D 0∧i L 1is

ζ + ¿=ξ Δ i L1 /2 kV 1 T ¿
1+¿= = ¿
I L1 k R
2 L1 II +¿ = ¿
M s 2f L1
2

The ratio of the output voltage V O +¿¿ in continues conduction mode is

ε V O +¿/2
+ ¿= ¿¿
k 1
V O +¿ = ¿
128 f 3 L 2 C 2C 0 R

Negative Conversion Path

The voltage across inductor L1 is equal to VI during switch-on, and –VC1 during switch-off. We
have the relations:
 Figure 3. Equivalent circuits of self-lift circuit negative path
The relationship of average voltage and current are
I 0−¿= I L 12 =I C 11−ON ¿

k k
¿ I c11−off = ∧I c 11−o n= I
1−k 1−k 0−¿¿
k 1−k 1
And we have I c1 2−off =I L 11= I and I c1 2−on= I = I
1−k 0−¿¿ k c12−off k 0−¿¿

So that V 0−¿= 1
V ∧I ¿
1−k I 0−¿=(1−k)I ¿ I

The voltage transfer gain in continues conduction mode is

M V O+ ¿ 1
s−¿= = ¿¿
VI 1− k

Circuit (C11-L12-C10) is a “Π” type low-pass filter. Therefore,

V k
O −¿=V C 11= V ¿
1−k I

And we define M s=M s+¿=M s −¿ ¿ ¿

The variation ratio of the of the parameters in continues conduction mode are
ξ Δ i L 12 /2 k 1
−¿= = ∧ρ /2 ¿
I L 12 16 f 2 C 10 L12 −¿= Δ vV
c 11
=kT
I0−¿
k
¿¿
c 11
2 C 11 V ¿ = ¿
2 f C11 R 1

σ Δv c 12 /2 I 0−¿ Ms
1−¿= = = ¿¿
V c 12 2 f C 1 2 V I 2 f C 12 R1

The variation ratio of current i D 10 and i L 11 are

ξ Δ i L 11 / 2 K(1−k)V 1 T
−¿= = ¿
I L 11 k(1−k) R1 k R1
2 L11 I 0−¿ = = 2 ¿
2 M S f L11 M s 2 f L 11

The variation ratio of output voltage V O +¿¿ is

ε
−¿=
( Δ V2 )=
C 10

k I 0 −¿
¿¿
3
V C10 128 f C 11 C 10 L12 V = k
O−¿ 3
¿
128f C 11 C 10 L 12 R1

Discontinuous conduction mode

Since we select Z N =Z N+ ¿=Z N −¿¿ ¿ , M S =M S +¿= M S−¿¿ ¿ and ζ =ζ +¿=ζ −¿¿ ¿

The filling efficiency is defined as

2
1 2 Ms
ms = =
ζ k ZN

k ZN
ζ ≥ 1→ 2
≥1
Ms 2

So, condition for discontinuous conduction mode is

Ms ≤ k N
Z
2 √
kTVI = (1 – k)ms+TVCI or

V c 1=
k
(1−k )m s
Z
V I =k 2 ( 1−k ) N V I with
2
k ZN
2
≥
1
1−k √
So, the positive output voltage in discontinuous mode is
V
( ) [ ]
k 2 ZN
0 +¿=V c 1+V I= 1− V I = 1+k (1−k ) V I¿
(1−k)m s 2

For iL11 we have kTVI = (1 – k)msT(VC11 - VI)or

V c 11= 1+
( k
(1−k )m s ) [
Z Z
V I = 1+k 2 (1−k ) N V I with k N ≥
2
k
2 1−k ] √
the current iL12 we have kT(VI + VC11 – VO–) = (1 – k)ms-T(VO - VI)
Therefore, the negative output voltage in discontinuous conduction mode is
V
[ 2
0−¿= 1+k (1−k )
ZN
2]V I with
√
k ZN
2
≥
k
,V =V ¿ ¿¿
1−k O
 Double output Luo-converter re-lift circuit

Figure 3.3 Double output Luo-converter re-lift circuit

Its output voltage and current is
V O +¿=¿ ¿

I 1−k
O+¿= I ¿
2 1+ ¿¿

And
I 1−k
O−¿= I ¿
2 1−¿¿

The voltage transfer gain in continues conduction mode is

V O+¿
M E= =¿ ¿ ¿
VI

The ratio of the output voltage V O +¿¿ in continues conduction mode is

ε V O +¿/2
+ ¿= ¿¿
k 1
V O +¿ = ¿
128 f 3 L 2 C 0C 2 R

The ratio of the output voltage V O −¿ ¿ in continues conduction mode is

ε V O−¿/2
+ ¿= ¿¿
k 1
V O −¿ = ¿
128 f L 12 C 10 C 11 R1
3

This converter may work in discontinuous conduction mode if the frequency f, conduction duty
k, inductance L are small, and load current is high.
 The condition for discontinuous conduction mode is
ME ≤ √k Z N
Multiple-Lift Circuit

it is possible to build a multiple-lifts circuit only using the parts (L3-D20-C3-D3) multiple times in the
positive conversion path, and using the parts (D22-L13-C13-D12) multiple times in the negative
conversion path. For example, in Figure 2.73 the parts (L4-D4-C4-D5) and parts (D23- L14-C14-D13)
were added in the triple-lift circuit. According to this principle, triple-lift circuits and quadruple-lift
circuits have been built as shown in Figure 2.73 and Figure 2.76. In this book it is not necessary to
introduce the particular analysis and calculations one by one to readers. However, their calculation
formulas are shown in this section.

Double output Luo-converter triple-lift circuit

Triple-lift circuit is shown in Figure 2.73. The positive conversion path consists of a pump circuit S-L1-
D0-C1 and a filter (C2)-L2-CO, and a lift circuit D1- C2- D2-C3-D3-L3-D4-C4-D5-L4. The negative
conversion path consists of a pump circuit S-L11-D10-(C11) and a “Π”-type filter C11-L12-C10, and a
lift circuit D11- C12-D22-C13-L13-D12-D23-L14-C14-D13.

Positive Conversion Path

The lift circuit is D1-C2-D2-C3-D3-L3-D4-C4-D5-L4. Capacitors C2, C3, and C4 perform characteristics
to lift the capacitor voltage VC1 by three times of source voltage VI. L3 and L4 perform the function as
ladder joints to link the three capacitors C3 and C4 and lift the capacitor voltage VC1 up. Current iC2(t),
iC3(t), and iC4(t) are exponential functions. They have large values at the moment of power on, but they
are small because vC3 = vC4 = VI and vC2 = VO+ in steady state. The output voltage and current are
V
¿The voltage transfer gain in continuous mode is
3
O +¿= V ∧I
1−k 1 0+ ¿= 1−k
3
I I +¿ ¿ ¿

M V O +¿
T +¿= =¿ ¿¿¿
VI

Other average voltages:

V 2+ K = V C4 = VI V CO = V C 2= VO+
O +¿= V V ¿
1−k 1 C3

Other average currents:

I 1 1
0+¿=
1−k I
I ¿= L 2 IL1 = IL3 =I L 4 = I ¿ I
3 I + ¿¿ 3 I +¿¿ 1−K I +¿¿
Current variations:
K (1−K )R K 3R
ξ1+ = ζ+ = = 2
2 M T f L3 M T 2 fL
K 1
ξ1+ =
16 f c 2 L2
2

K 3R
χ1+ =
M T 2 f L3
2

K 3R
χ2+ =
MT 2 f L 4
2

Voltage variations:
3
ρ+ =
2(2+k )f C1 R

k
σ1+ =
2 f C2 R

MT
σ2+ =
2 f C3 R
 MT
σ3+ =
2 f C4 R
The variation ratio of output voltage VC0 is:
K MT
ε+ =
128 f 3 C2 C 0 C 0 L2

Negative Conversion Path

Circuit C12-D11-L13-D22-C13-D12-L14-D23-C14-D13 is the lift circuit. Capacitors C12,C13, and C14

perform characteristics to lift the capacitor voltage VC11 by three times the source voltage VI. L13 and
L14 perform the function as ladder joints to link the three capacitors C12, C13, and C14 and lift the
capacitor voltage VC11 up. Current iC12(t), iC13(t) and iC14(t) are exponential functions. They have
large values at the moment of power on, but they are small because vC12 = vC13 = vC14 ≅ VI in steady
state.
The output voltage and current are:
V
¿The voltage transfer gain in continuous mode is
3
O −¿= V ∧I
1−k 1 0−¿= 1−k
3
I I−¿ ¿ ¿

M V O−¿
T−¿= =¿¿¿ ¿
VI

Other average voltages:

V C 11 =V 0−¿¿ V C 12 = V C 13 = V C 14 = VI
Other average currents:

1
I 0−¿¿= I L 12 I L 11= I L 13 = I L 14 = I
1−K I −¿¿
Current variations:
K 2 R1
ζ- = 2
M Q 2 f L11
 K 1
ξ- =
16 f C L12
2

K ( K−1) R1
χ1- = 2
MQ 2 f L13

K R1
χ2- = 2
M T 2 f L14
K R1
χ2- = 2
M T 2 f L15
Voltage variations:
K
ρ- =
2 f C11 R1

MQ
σ1- =
2 f C12 R 1

MQ
σ2-=
2 f C13 R 1

MQ
σ3- =
2 f C14 R1

MQ
σ4- =
2 f C15 R 1

The variation ratio of output voltage VC0 is:

K MT
ε- = 3
128 2 f C 11 C 10 C 12 R1

Discontinuous Mode
To obtain the mirror-symmetrical double output voltages, we purposely select: L1 = L11 and R = R1.

V O =V O +¿¿= V O −¿ ¿
M T = M T +¿¿= M T−¿ ¿

z N = z N +¿ ¿= z N ¿
¿

ζ = ζ+ = ζ–

and ζ = ζ+ = ζ–
The free-wheeling diode currents iD0 and iD10 become zero during switch off before next period switch
on. The boundary between continuous and discontinuous conduction modes is

ζ≥1

Then

MT ≤
√ 3 K zN
2 ❑
the positive output voltage in discontinuous mode is

3K z
V O +¿¿ = V C 1 +V 1=[3+ ]V 1 = [3 + K 2(1-K) N ]V 1
(1−K )mT 2

With

√ 3 K zN
2
≥
3
(1−k )

Because inductor current iL11 = 0 at t = t1, so that

K
V L13 off =V L14 off = V1
(1−k )mT
Since i D 10 becomes 0 at t 1 = [k + (1 – k)m T ]T, for the current i L 11,

kTV1 = (1 – k)m T –T(V C 11 – 3V 1 – V L13 off −V L14 off )

with

√ 3 K zN
2
≥
3
(1−k )

for the current iL12

KT(V 1 + V c 14 - V o−¿ ¿) = (1-k)mT-T(V o−¿ ¿2V 1– V L13 off −V L14 off )

Therefore, the negative output voltage in discontinuous mode is:

3 z
V o−¿ ¿ = [3 + ]V 1= [3+ K 2(1-K) N ]V 1
(1−k )m T 2
With

√ 3 K zN
2
≥
3
(1−k )

zN
So V O =V O +¿¿= V O −¿ ¿= [3+ K 2(1-K) ]V 1
2
The output voltage will linearly increase during load resistance increasing

Double output Luo-converter quadruple-lift circuit

 Figure 3.5 Double output Luo-converter quadruple-lift circuit
Its output voltage and current is
V O +¿=¿ ¿

I 1−k
O+¿= I ¿
4 1+ ¿¿

And
I 1−k
O−¿= I ¿
4 1−¿¿

The voltage transfer gain in continues conduction mode is

V O +¿
MT= =¿ ¿ ¿
VI

The variation ratio of the output voltage V O +¿¿ in continues conduction mode is
ε V O + ¿/2
+ ¿=∆ ¿¿
k 1
V O + ¿= ¿
128 f 3 L2 C 0 C 2 R

The variation ratio of the output voltage V O −¿ ¿ in continues conduction mode is

ε ∆ V O −¿/ 2
+ ¿= ¿¿
k 1
V O −¿ = ¿
128 f L 12 C 10 C 11 R1
3
This converter may work in discontinuous conduction mode if the frequency f, conduction duty
k, inductance L are small, and load current is high.
The condition for discontinuous conduction mode is
M Q ≤ √ 2 kZ N

The output voltages in discontinuous conduction mode are

4
V O =¿ ¿with√ 2 kZ N ≥
1−k