Current detecting circuit AC/DC flyback switching power supply

• US 20040257095A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Niko Semiconductor Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Yang, Hui Chiang
• Granted Patent: US 6,856,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/713
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10

Abstract

A current detecting circuit connects to a secondary side of a transformer, including a first, second transistors and a field-effect transistor (FET). The first transistor has a base connecting with the base and emitter of the second transistor to form a common base terminal, an emitter forming a first detecting terminal and a collector forming a feedback terminal. The second transistor has a collector forming a second detecting terminal. The FET is used to replace a prior current rectifying diode. The FET has a source connecting to an output terminal of the transformer and a drain connecting to a direct current (DC) output terminal. The first, second detecting terminals and feedback terminal are connected with the source, drain and gate of the FET, respectively. Via detecting the current of the DC output terminal, the FET is timely turned on and off to release the energy stored in the transformer.

Claims

1. A current detecting circuit for a AC/DC flyback switching power supply, the current detecting circuit being connected to a secondary side of a transformer of the AC/DC flyback switching power supply for detecting a current of a direct current (DC) output terminal, the secondary side of the transformer having a first output terminal, a second output terminal and a reference terminal, the current detecting circuit comprising:

bipolar junction transistors, comprising a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor having a base connecting with a base and an emitter of the second transistor to form a common base terminal, the first transistor having an emitter forming a first detecting terminal and having a collector forming a feedback terminal, the second transistor having a collector forming a second detecting terminal; and

a field-effect transistor (FET) having a source, a gate and a drain, the source connecting to the first output terminal of the transformer, the drain connecting to the DC output terminal;

wherein the first detecting terminal is connected with the source of the FET, the second detecting terminal is connected with the drain of the FET, the feedback terminal is connected with the gate of the FET;

via detecting the tiny current of the DC output terminal by using the bipolar junction transistors, the FET being turned on or off to release an energy stored in the transformer.

2. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the reference terminal of the transformer is an electrical connection terminal.

3. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are equivalent NPN transistors.

4. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the FET has a low impedance, a minimum value of the impedance is 10 mΩ

.

5. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 1 further comprising:

a first resistor having a first leg and a second leg, the first leg connecting with the common base terminal, the second leg forming an auxiliary power terminal.

6. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 5, wherein the auxiliary power terminal connecting with the feedback terminal via a second resistor.

7. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 1 further comprising a buffer circuit to assist the bipolar junction transistors in turning on the FET, the buffer circuit comprising:

a diode having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the positive electrode connecting with the second output terminal of the transformer, the negative electrode connecting with an auxiliary power terminal;

a third transistor, which is a NPN transistor, the third transistor having a collector, a base and an emitter, the collector connecting with the auxiliary power terminal;

a fourth transistor, which is a NPN transistor, the fourth transistor having a collector, a base and an emitter, the emitter connecting with the emitter of the third transistor and the gate of the FET, the base connecting with the base of the third transistor and the feedback terminal, the collector connecting with the first detecting terminal; and

a second resistor connecting the feedback terminal with the auxiliary power terminal.

8. The current detecting circuit as claimed in the claim 7, wherein the buffer circuit has an operation principle as following:

when the DC output terminal has a high potential, the second output terminal of the transformer providing an auxiliary power to the diode, the second resistor being biased by the auxiliary power to turn off the fourth transistor and turn on the third transistor Q5 so as to turn on the FET and decrease the current in a manner with negative slope, a slight voltage drop caused by the FET due to the current to turned off the first transistor and turned on the second transistor;

when the current is decreased to reach a predetermined value, the voltage drop being insufficient so that the second transistor is turned off, the first transistor is turned on, the third transistor is turned off, the fourth transistor is turned on and the FET is turned off, thereby, the FET being turned on and off, cyclically.