Power converting system

• US 10,516,371 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cool Dry, Inc.
• Inventors: Eisenberg, John A., Wisherd, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moody, Kyle J
• Application Number:
  US15/657,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20180026590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 37/32174 Circuits specially adapted for controlling the RF discharge
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/162 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/1626 with automatic control of the output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/451 the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/19 with semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/21 with semiconductor devices only H03F3/245 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2173 of the bridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/2176 Class E amplifiers

Abstract

A power converting system that includes: a rectifier configured to convert an input voltage into a output voltage and including an output node that is coupled to floating ground; a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier coupled to the rectifier and configured to generate a load voltage based on an RF clock and the output voltage; a detector coupled to the RF power amplifier and configured to detect the load voltage of the RF power amplifier; an integrator coupled to the detector and configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage based on the detected load voltage; and a controller coupled to the integrator and configured to, based on the DC voltage, generate a control signal to adjust one or more features of the RF power amplifier is disclosed.

Claims

1. A power converting system comprising:

a rectifier configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage and including an output node that is coupled to a floating ground;

a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier coupled to the rectifier and configured to generate a load voltage based on an RF clock and the output voltage;

a detector coupled to the RF power amplifier and configured to detect the load voltage of the RF power amplifier;

an integrator coupled to the detector and configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage based on the detected load voltage;

a controller coupled to the integrator and configured to, based on the DC voltage, generate a control signal to adjust one or more features of the RF power amplifier; and

a reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage and provide the reference voltage to the controller, the reference voltage generator having a first terminal coupled to the floating ground and a second terminal coupled to the controller,

wherein the RF power amplifier includes;

a transformer including a primary side and a secondary side separated from the primary side, the transformer being configured to transfer RF power from the primary side to the secondary side,

a plurality of switching units coupled to the primary side of the transformer, each of the plurality of switching units having a terminal coupled to the floating ground,

a RF clock generator disposed between the RF power amplifier and the floating ground and configured to provide the RF clock to the RF power amplifier, and

a resonator coupled between the secondary side of the transformer and a RF load, the resonator having a terminal coupled to a chassis ground, and

wherein the RF power amplifier is configured to, based on the transformer transferring the RF power from the primary side to the secondary side, transfer the RF power from the secondary side to the RF load through the resonator.

2. The power converting system of claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to:

compare the DC voltage to the reference voltage,

based on the comparison of the DC voltage to the reference voltage, generate the control signal.

3. The power converting system of claim 2, wherein the reference voltage represents a desired RF output power of the power converting system.

4. The power converting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a coupler coupled to the RF power amplifier and configured to transfer output of the RF power amplifier to the detector.

5. The power converting system of claim 4, wherein the coupler is a directional coupler that is configured to sense the output of the RF power amplifier delivered to the RF load.

6. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein the load voltage of the RF power amplifier is provided to the RF load.

7. The power converting system of claim 6, wherein the RF load includes one or more resistors.

8. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the RF clock is an operating frequency of the power converting system.

9. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

based on the DC voltage, generate the control signal to adjust a phase of the RF clock.

10. The power converting system of claim 9, wherein the RF power amplifier includes:

a phase shifter configured to;

receive the control signal from the controller, and

based on the control signal, adjust the phase of the RF clock.

11. The power converting system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of switching units include:

a first switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock,

a second switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock,

a third switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock through the phase shifter, and

a fourth switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock through the phase shifter,

wherein the phase shifter is configured to adjust the phase of the RF clock and provide the phase adjusted RF clock to the third switching unit and the fourth switching unit.

12. The power converting system of claim 11, wherein the second switching unit and the third switching unit are coupled to the floating ground.

13. The power converting system of claim 11, wherein the RF power amplifier further includes:

a resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency, and

wherein an operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is equal to the first resonant frequency.

14. The power converting system of claim 13, wherein the operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is between 100 kHz and 100MHz.

15. The power converting system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of switching units include:

a first switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock, and

a second switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock, and

wherein the phase shifter is configured to adjust the phase of the RF clock and provide the phase adjusted RF clock to the first switching unit and the second switching unit.

16. The power converting system of claim 15, wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are coupled to the floating ground.

17. The power converting system of claim 15, wherein the RF power amplifier further includes:

a resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency, and

wherein an operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is equal to the first resonant frequency.

18. The power converting system of claim 17, wherein the operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is between 100 kHz and 100MHz.

19. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

based on the DC voltage, generate the control signal to adjust a pulse width of the RF clock.

20. The power converting system of claim 19, wherein the RF power amplifier includes:

a pulse width controller that is configured to;

receive the control signal from the controller, and

based on the control signal, adjust the pulse width of the RF clock.

21. The power converting system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of switching units include:

a first switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock through the pulse width controller,

a second switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock through the pulse width controller,

a third switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock through the pulse width controller, and

a fourth switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock through the pulse width controller,

wherein the pulse width controller is configured to adjust the pulse width of the RF clock and provide the pulse width-adjusted RF clock to the first switching unit, the second switching unit, the third switching unit, and the fourth switching unit.

22. The power converting system of claim 21, wherein the second switching unit and the third switching unit are coupled to the floating ground.

23. The power converting system of claim 21, wherein the RF power amplifier further includes:

a resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency, and

wherein an operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is equal to the first resonant frequency.

24. The power converting system of claim 23, wherein the operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is between 100 kHz and 100MHz.

25. The power converting system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of switching units include:

a first switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock, and

a second switching unit that is configured to receive the RF clock, and

wherein the pulse width controller is configured to adjust the pulse width of the RF clock and provide the pulse width-adjusted RF clock to the first switching unit and the second switching unit.

26. The power converting system of claim 25, wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are coupled to the floating ground.

27. The power converting system of claim 25, wherein the RF power amplifier further includes:

a resonant circuit having a first resonant frequency, and

wherein an operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is equal to the first resonant frequency.

28. The power converting system of claim 27, wherein the operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is between 100 kHz and 100MHz.

29. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein the rectifier is a Valley Fill rectifier.

30. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein an operating frequency of the RF power amplifier is between 13 and 14 MHz.

31. The power converting system of claim 1, wherein the floating ground is isolated from the chassis ground.