Primary side regulated power supply system with constant current output

• US 20070182387A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Weirich, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/234
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/04 Constant-current supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a power supply system has a primary side and a secondary side. An input terminal on the primary side is operable to receive an input voltage. An output terminal on the secondary side is operable to be connected to a load for providing current thereto. Circuitry is provided which is operable to regulate the power supply system from the primary side so that the current provided to the load at the output terminal is substantially constant.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

an input terminal operable to receive an input voltage;

a transformer coupled to the input terminal and defining a primary side and a secondary side;

an output terminal coupled to the secondary side of the transformer and connectable to a load for providing current thereto; and

means for regulating the power supply system from the primary side so that the current provided to the load at the output terminal is substantially constant.

2. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating comprises control circuitry with feedback operable to regulate a voltage at the output terminal in steady-state operation and operable to provide a constant current output to the load when a voltage at the output terminal is lower than a certain value.

3. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating comprises a control circuit and a feedback circuit.

4. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the means for regulating comprises:

a control circuit having a power switch through which drain current flows; and

the feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit;

wherein the control circuit and the feedback circuit are operable to regulate a voltage at the output terminal in a steady-state operation of the power supply system and further operable to provide a constant current output to the load when a voltage at the output terminal is lower than a certain value.

5. The power supply system of claim 4 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor coupled to the control circuit through which current may flow to reduce the drain current flowing through the power switch in the control circuit.

6. The power supply system of claim 4 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor coupled to the control circuit to adjust the drain current flowing through the power switch in the control circuit.

7. The power supply system of claim 4 wherein the transformer comprises a first and second primary side winding and a secondary side winding, wherein the power switch of the control circuit is coupled to the first primary side winding, and wherein the output terminal is coupled to the secondary side winding.

8. The power supply system of claim 7 wherein the feedback circuit is coupled to the second primary side winding.

9. The power supply system of claim 7 wherein the feedback circuit comprises:

a first diode couple at its anode to the second primary side winding;

a capacitor coupled to a cathode of the first diode;

a second diode coupled at its cathode to the cathode of the first diode;

a resistor coupled at one end to an anode of the second diode and at another end to a control terminal of a transistor; and

the transistor coupled to the control circuit.

10. The power supply system of claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the control circuit is implemented as an integrated circuit device.

11. The power supply system of claim 4 wherein the control circuit has a feedback terminal and a peak drain current terminal, and wherein the feedback circuit is coupled to the feedback terminal and the peak drain current terminal of the control circuit.

12. A power supply system comprising:

an input terminal operable to receive an input voltage;

a transformer coupled to the input terminal and defining a primary side and a secondary side;

an output terminal coupled to the secondary side of the transformer and connectable to a load for providing current thereto;

a control circuit coupled to the transformer and operable to control current flowing through the transformer; and

a feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit and the transformer, the feedback circuit operable to support regulation by the control circuit from the primary side so that the current provided to the load at the output terminal is substantially constant.

13. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the control circuit comprises a power switch through which drain current flows.

14. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor coupled to the control circuit through which current may flow to reduce the drain current flowing through the power switch in the control circuit.

15. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the transformer comprises a first and second primary side winding and a secondary side winding, wherein the power switch of the control circuit is coupled to the first primary side winding, and wherein the output terminal is coupled to the secondary side winding.

16. The power supply system of claim 15 wherein the feedback circuit is coupled to the second primary side winding.

17. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the control circuit is implemented as an integrated circuit device.

18. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor coupled to the control circuit to adjust current flowing through the control circuit.

19. The power supply system of claim 13 wherein the transformer comprises a first and second primary side winding and a secondary side winding, wherein the power switch of the control circuit is coupled to the first primary side winding, and wherein the output terminal is coupled to the secondary side winding.

20. The power supply system of claim 19 wherein the feedback circuit is coupled to the second primary side winding of the transformer.

21. The power supply system of claim 19 wherein the feedback circuit comprises:

a first diode couple at its anode to the second primary side winding;

a capacitor coupled to a cathode of the first diode;

a second diode coupled at its cathode to the cathode of the first diode;

a resistor coupled at one end to an anode of the second diode and at another end to a control terminal of a transistor; and

the transistor coupled to the control circuit.

22. The power supply system of claim 12 wherein the control circuit has a feedback terminal and a peak drain current terminal, and wherein the feedback circuit is coupled to the feedback terminal and the peak drain current terminal of the control circuit.

23. A power supply system having a primary side and a secondary side, the system comprising:

an input terminal on the primary side operable to receive an input voltage;

an output terminal on the secondary side operable to be connected to a load for providing current thereto; and

circuitry operable to regulate the power supply system from the primary side so that the current provided to the load at the output terminal is substantially constant.

24. The power supply system of claim 23 wherein the circuitry comprises control circuitry with feedback operable to regulate a voltage at the output terminal in steady-state operation and operable to provide a constant current output to the load when a voltage at the output terminal is lower than a certain value.

25. The power supply system of claim 23 wherein the circuitry comprises a control circuit and a feedback circuit.

26. The power supply system of claim 23 wherein the circuitry comprises:

a control circuit having a power switch through which drain current flows; and

the feedback circuit coupled to the control circuit;

wherein the control circuit and the feedback circuit are operable to regulate a voltage at the output terminal in a steady-state operation of the power supply system and further operable to provide a constant current output to the load when a voltage at the output terminal is lower than a certain value.

27. The power supply system of claim 26 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor coupled to the control circuit through which current may flow to reduce the drain current flowing through the power switch in the control circuit.

28. The power supply system of claim 26 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor coupled to the control circuit to adjust the drain current flowing through the power switch in the control circuit.

29. The power supply system of claim 26 wherein at least a portion of the control circuit is implemented as an integrated circuit device.

30. The power supply system of claim 26 wherein the control circuit has a feedback terminal and a peak drain current terminal, and wherein the feedback circuit is coupled to the feedback terminal and the peak drain current terminal of the control circuit.