Power circuit and its operation method for regulating power transfer

• US 10,289,139 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2018
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
• Original Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
• Inventors: Chung, Shu Hung Henry, Yuen, Kuen Faat
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US16/049,940
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/56 using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices G05F1/461 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 11/04 Frequency selective two-port networks

Abstract

A power circuit for regulating power transfer includes: a power converter circuit having an input and an output and arranged to be connected between a power supply and a load to regulate power transfer therebetween; an input capacitor connected across the input of the power converter circuit; a series pass element arranged to be connected between the power supply and the input capacitor; and a control circuit, operably connected with the series pass element and the power converter circuit, for controlling operation of the series pass element. The power circuit further includes an input capacitor power control circuit operably connected with the input capacitor and arranged to provide power to the input capacitor to facilitate charging of the input capacitor when a voltage across the series pass element is detected to be above a voltage threshold as a result of an increase in a voltage of the power supply.

Claims

1. A power circuit for regulating power transfer, the power circuit comprising:

a power converter circuit arranged to be connected between a power supply and a load to regulate power transfer therebetween, the power converter circuit having an input and an output;

an input capacitor connected across the input of the power converter circuit;

a series pass element arranged to be connected between the power supply and the input capacitor; and

a control circuit, operably connected with the series pass element and the power converter circuit, for controlling operation of the series pass element,

wherein the power circuit further comprises an input capacitor power control circuit operably connected with the input capacitor, the input capacitor power control circuit is arranged to provide power to the input capacitor to facilitate charging of the input capacitor when a voltage across the series pass element is detected to be above a voltage threshold as a result of an increase in a voltage of the power supply.

2. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the charging of the input capacitor increases the voltage across the input capacitor and reduces the voltage across the series pass element.

3. The power circuit of claim 2, further comprising a voltage control circuit for detecting a voltage across the series pass element and for comparing the detected voltage with the voltage threshold.

4. The power circuit of claim 3, wherein the voltage control circuit is part of the control circuit.

5. The power circuit of claim 4, wherein the power converter circuit comprises one or more power switches;

and wherein the voltage control circuit is further arranged to control operation of the one or more power switches based on the comparison.

6. The power circuit of claim 5, wherein the control circuit further comprises:

a current control circuit connected between the series pass element and the power converter circuit, the current control circuit is arranged to detect an output of the power converter circuit or an operation parameter of the power converter circuit and, based on the detection, control a current supplied to the series pass element.

7. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the input capacitor power control circuit is a bi-directional circuit, which is further operable to discharge the input capacitor.

8. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the input capacitor power control circuit comprises a supplementary power converter circuit operably connected with a power source.

9. The power circuit of claim 8, wherein the supplementary power converter circuit comprises one or more power switches.

10. The power circuit of claim 8, wherein the power source is the output of the power converter circuit.

11. The power circuit of claim 8, wherein the power source comprises a capacitor.

12. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage threshold is predetermined.

13. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the voltage threshold is dynamically adjustable.

14. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the series pass element comprises a transistor.

15. The power circuit of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the transistor to operate in a linear region.

16. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the input capacitor and the series pass element forms an input filter for the power converter circuit.

17. The power circuit of claim 1, wherein the input capacitor power control circuit is arranged to provide power to the input capacitor to facilitate charging of the input capacitor until a voltage across the input capacitor substantially equals to a difference between the a voltage of the power supply and the voltage threshold.

18. A method for operating the power circuit of claim 3, comprising:

detecting a voltage across the series pass element;

determining whether the detected voltage is above a voltage threshold; and

providing power to the input capacitor to charge the input capacitor when the detected voltage is determined to be above the voltage threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of providing power to the input capacitor stops when a voltage across the input capacitor substantially equals to a difference between the voltage of the power supply and the voltage threshold.

20. An electrical device comprising the power circuit of claim 1.