Switch mode power converter having multiple inductor windings equipped with snubber circuits

• US 20070216385A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABCO Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ABCO Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Quazi, Fazle S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,541,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/282
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits

Abstract

The present switch mode power converter having multiple inductor windings equipped with snubber circuits uses a small value inductor that has at least one properly oriented secondary winding, and ultra fast diodes interconnect the primary and the secondary windings of this inductor for providing protection against momentary short circuits, reductions of dv/dt, and switching losses.

Claims

1. A switch mode power converter circuit for powering a load from a source of DC voltage having first and second terminals, comprising:

inductor means having a primary winding with first and second terminals, a center tap terminal that is connected to a load, and a first polarity between said first and said second terminals;

first switch means, connected between a first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said first terminal of said inductor means;

first diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said cathode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said anode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said inductor means;

second switch means, connected between a second terminal of said source of DC voltage and said second terminal of said inductor means;

second diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage and said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said inductor means;

switching control means for switching the first and second switch means to conduct alternatively between said first and second terminals of said source of DC voltage at a predetermined high frequency;

wherein said inductor means includes a secondary winding with first and second terminals and a second polarity between said first and said second terminals that is opposite said first polarity of said primary winding of said inductor means and said secondary winding is connected between said first and second terminals of said source of DC voltage, respectively.

2. The switch mode power converter of claim 1 further comprising:

first capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said second terminal being connected to said first terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means.

3. The switch mode power converter of claim 2 further comprising:

third diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage and said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means.

4. The switch mode power converter of claim 2 further comprising:

second capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means and said second terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

5. The switch mode power converter of claim 2 further comprising:

first clamping diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means.

6. The switch mode power converter of claim 5 further comprising:

second clamping diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage.

7. The switch mode power converter of claim 2 further comprising:

wherein said inductor means includes a tertiary winding with first and second terminals and a third polarity between said first and said second terminals that is opposite said first polarity of said primary winding of said inductor means and said tertiary winding is connected between said first and second terminals of said source of DC voltage, respectively.

8. The switch mode power converter of claim 7 further comprising:

second capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal of said tertiary winding of said inductor means and said second terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

9. The switch mode power converter of claim 7 further comprising:

third diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said tertiary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

10. The switch mode power converter of claim 7 further comprising:

linking diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said tertiary winding of said inductor means.

11. The switch mode power converter of claim 1 further comprising:

first snubber means connected between a first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said first terminal of said inductor means; and

second snubber means connected between a second terminal of said source of DC voltage and said second terminal of said inductor means.

12. The switch mode power converter of claim 11 further comprising:

wherein said first snubber means comprises;

resistor means connected in parallel with snubber diode means having and anode terminal and a cathode terminal,

snubber capacitor means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said cathode terminal of said snubber diode means, and

wherein said anode terminal of said snubber diode means is connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said second terminal of said snubber capacitor means is connected to said first terminal of said inductor means.

13. The switch mode power converter of claim 11 further comprising:

wherein said second snubber means comprises;

resistor means connected in parallel with snubber diode means having and anode terminal and a cathode terminal

snubber capacitor means having first and second terminal, said first terminal being connected to said cathode terminal of said snubber diode means, and

wherein said anode terminal of said snubber diode means is connected to said second terminal of said inductor means and said first terminal of said snubber capacitor means is connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

14. The switch mode power converter of claim 11 further comprising:

wherein said first snubber means comprises;

snubber diode means having and anode terminal and a cathode terminal,

snubber capacitor means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said cathode terminal of said snubber diode means, and

wherein said anode terminal of said snubber diode means is connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said second terminal of said snubber capacitor means is connected to said first terminal of said inductor means.

15. The switch mode power converter of claim 11 further comprising:

wherein said second snubber means comprises;

snubber diode means having and anode terminal and a cathode terminal,

snubber capacitor means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said cathode terminal of said snubber diode means, and

wherein said anode terminal of said snubber diode means is connected to said second terminal of said inductor means and said first terminal of said snubber capacitor means is connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

16. The switch mode power converter of claim 7 further comprising:

wherein said inductor means includes a fourth winding with first and second terminals and a fourth polarity between said first and said second terminals that is opposite said first polarity of said primary winding of said inductor means and said fourth winding is connected between said first and second terminals of said source of DC voltage, respectively.

17. The switch mode power converter of claim 16 further comprising:

first fourth winding capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage and said second terminal being connected to first terminal of said fourth winding of said inductor means; and

second fourth winding capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal of said fourth winding of said inductor means and said second terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

18. The switch mode power converter of claim 16 further comprising:

third clamping diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said fourth winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means; and

fourth clamping diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said fourth winding of said inductor means and said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means.

19. The switch mode power converter of claim 2 further comprising:

first linking diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means; and

second linking diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means.

20. The switch mode power converter of claim 19 further comprising:

second capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means and said second terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage.

21. The switch mode power converter of claim 19 further comprising:

third capacitor means having a first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal of said secondary winding of said inductor means and said second terminal being connected to said first terminal of said source of DC voltage.

22. The switch mode power converter of claim 4 further comprising:

first commutation current diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means and said cathode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage; and

second commutation current diode means having an anode terminal and a cathode terminal, said anode terminal being connected to said second terminal of said source of DC voltage and said cathode terminal being connected to said first terminal of said primary winding of said inductor means.

23. The switch mode power converter of claim 1 further comprising:

snubber circuit means connected between said load and said center tap terminal of said inductor means.

24. The switch mode power converter of claim 23 wherein said snubber circuit means comprises:

inductor means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said center tap terminal; and

capacitor means having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said second terminal of said inductor means and said second terminal being connected to said load.