Complete Family of Two-Stage Single-Input Multioutput Configurations of Interconnected Power Converters

Single-input multioutput converters, constructed by interconnecting dc-dc converters, are used in various applications with advantages of high scalability, low component stress, and power distribution flexibility. This article presents a complete family of two-stage configurations of interconnected dc-dc converters that include conventional voltage-source-mode (VSM) converters and the less known current-source-mode (CSM) converters, covering all possible termination types and connection styles. Derivation of 16 possible configurations is presented. These configurations are then compared in terms of power-sharing capability, extended flexibility, mutual effects among interconnected modules, basic control requirements, and load characteristics. On this basis, advantages and disadvantages of different configurations are given. Suitable applications and existing (known) configurations are reviewed, aiming to provide essential information for the design of interconnected converters for different application scenarios. As an illustrative example, a two-stage configuration consisting of a VSM converter as the prestage and two series-connected CSM converters as the poststage is proposed to drive light-emitting diodes under high-input-voltage conditions.