Snubber circuit and power transformer using the same

• US 20020044459A1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Marumo, Katsuya, Tsubota, Yasuhiro, Kobori, Hideki
• Granted Patent: US 6,507,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/346 Passive non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33538 of the forward type H02M3/3353, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

The invention has a first series circuit consisting of a capacitor and a diode and a second series circuit consisting of a coil and a diode, the first series circuit is connected in parallel to the commutating diode in a state that the capacitor is connected to a choke coil side in the commutating diode, and the second series circuit is connected between a connecting portion of the capacitor and the diode in the first series circuit and a commutating diode non-connecting side in the choke coil.

Claims

1. A snubber circuit provided in a power transformer having at least a switch element operating for power transformation control, a magnetic substance storing and releasing a power energy in relation to power transformation that accompanies operation of said switch element, and a commutating diode conducting by means of the power energy stored in said magnetic substance, comprising at least:

a first series circuit in which a capacitor and a diode are connected in series; and

a second series circuit in which a coil and a diode are connected in series, wherein;

said first series circuit is connected in parallel to said commutating diode in a state that the capacitor of said first series circuit is connected to a magnetic substance connecting side in said commutating diode; and

said second series circuit is connected between a connecting portion of the capacitor and the diode in said first series circuit and a commutating diode non-connecting side in said magnetic substance.

2. The snubber circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said power transformer is a forward scheme switching power supply having a converter transformer;

said switch element is connected in series to a primary coil of said converter transformer; and

said magnetic substance is constituted by a choke coil connected directly or indirectly to a secondary coil of said converter transformer.

3. The snubber circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said power transformer is a fly-back scheme switching power supply having a converter transformer;

said switch element is connected in series to a primary coil of said converter transformer; and

said magnetic substance is constituted by a secondary coil of said converter transformer.

4. The snubber circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said power transformer is a switching power supply with a tapped inductor; and

said magnetic substance is constituted by said the tapped inductor.

5. A power transformer comprising:

a switch element operating for a power transformation control;

a magnetic substance storing and releasing an energy in relation to power transformation that accompanies operation of said switch element;

a commutating diode conducting by means of the energy stored in said magnetic substance; and

a snubber circuit for suppressing voltage variations at a time of a turn-off of said switch element, wherein;

said snubber circuit has a first series circuit consisting of a capacitor and a diode, and a second series circuit consisting of a coil and a diode;

said first series circuit is connected in parallel to said commutating diode in a state that the capacitor thereof is connected to the magnetic connecting side in said commutating diode; and

said second series circuit is connected between the connecting portion of the capacitor and the diode in said first series circuit and the commutating diode non-connecting side in said magnetic substance.

6. A forward scheme power transformer comprising:

a converter transformer;

a switch element connected in series to an end of a primary coil of said converter transformer so as to operate for a power transformation control;

a rectifying diode connected to an end of a secondary coil of said converter transformer;

a choke coil indirectly connected to the end of the secondary coil of said converter transformer through said rectifying diode or directly connected to another end of said secondary coil so as to store and release a power energy in relation to power transformation that accompanies operation of said switch element;

a commutating diode connected in parallel to said rectifying diode and the another end of the secondary coil of said converter transformer so as to conduct by the power energy stored in said choke coil; and

a snubber circuit for suppressing voltage variations at a time of a turn-off of said switch element, wherein;

said snubber circuit has at least

a first series circuit in which a capacitor and a diode are connected in series, and

a second series circuit in which a coil and a diode are connected in series;

said first series circuit is connected in parallel to said commutating diode in a state that the capacitor thereof is connected to said choke coil connecting side in said commutating diode; and

the second series circuit is connected between a connecting portion of the capacitor and the diode in said first series circuit and a commutating diode non-connecting side in said choke coil.

7. A fly-back scheme power transformer comprising:

a converter transformer;

a switch element connected in series to a primary coil of said converter transformer so as to operate for a power transformation control;

a commutating diode connected to an end of a secondary of said converter transformer and conducting by a power energy stored in said secondary coil; and

a snubber circuit for suppressing voltage variations at a time of a turn-off of said switch element, wherein;

said snubber circuit has at least

a first series circuit in which a capacitor and a diode are connected in series, and

a second series circuit in which a coil and a diode are connected in series;

said first series circuit is connected in parallel to said commutating diode in a state that the capacitor thereof is connected to said choke coil connecting side in said commutating diode; and

the second series circuit is connected between a connecting portion of the capacitor and the diode in said first series circuit and a commutating diode non-connecting side in said secondary coil.

8. A power transformer with a tapped inductor, comprising:

a tapped inductor;

a switch element connected in series to one coil of said tapped inductor so as to operate for a power transformation control;

a commutating diode connected to another coil of said tapped inductor so as to conduct by a power energy stored in the another coil;

a snubber circuit for suppressing voltage variations at a time of a turn-off of said switch element, wherein;

said snubber circuit has at least

a first series circuit in which a capacitor and a diode are connected in series, and

a second series circuit in which a coil and a diode are connected in series;

said first series circuit is connected in parallel to said commutating diode in a state that the capacitor thereof is connected to said another coil connecting side of said tapped inductor in said commutating diode; and

the second series circuit is connected between a connecting portion of the capacitor and the diode in said first series circuit and a commutating diode non-connecting side in said another coil of said tapped inductor.