Class-E Isolated DC-DC Converter with High-Rate and Cost-Effective Bidirectional Data Channel

In this article, we propose a methodology to create a through-the-barrier bidirectional communication channel between the two sides of an isolated class-E resonant dc-dc converter. Our methodology is innovative since communication occurs through the same transformer used for energy transfer, and relies on connecting and disconnecting an auxiliary capacitance. By doing so, the converter switches between a faster and a slower response without any change in the clock controlling its activity. With this, it is possible to achieve a very high-rate bidirectional communication (up to 1 b per switching clock period) with virtually no limitations in the converter power with respect to a standard class-E implementation. Measurements performed on a prototype operating at 1 MHz and capable of delivering up to 1.2 W is presented as a proof-of-concept.