SWITCHED MODE POWER SUPPLY AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION

• US 20100014322A1
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Industries Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Harrison, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 8,395,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/17
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1584 with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33573 Full-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer

Abstract

A switched mode power supply allowing a half bridge converter to be use alone or in combination with another converter to form a full bridge converter. A common controller may be used for either half bridge or full bridge configurations. The modular approach simplifies design for a range of power supplies and reduces costs.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A switched mode power supply including:

first and second discrete half bridge converters interconnected to form a full bridge converter; and

a control circuit for controlling the first and second controllers.

13. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein the outputs of each converter are connected to series connected primary windings of respective output transformers.

14. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first and second half bridge converters are provided on separate circuit boards.

15. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein the control circuit is provided on a separate circuit board.

16. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 14 wherein the control circuit is provided on a separate circuit board.

17. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein a boost stage is provided prior to each half bridge converter.

18. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 14 wherein a boost stage is provided prior to each half bridge converter.

19. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 15 wherein a boost stage is provided prior to each half bridge converter.

20. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 16 wherein a boost stage is provided prior to each half bridge converter.

21. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein the control circuit monitors the output voltage and current of the power supply and controls switching of the half bridge converters to achieve a desired output voltage and current.

22. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 14 wherein the control circuit monitors the output voltage and current of the power supply and controls switching of the half bridge converters to achieve a desired output voltage and current.

23. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 15 wherein the control circuit monitors the output voltage and current of the power supply and controls switching of the half bridge converters to achieve a desired output voltage and current.

24. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 wherein the top switch of the first half bridge converter and the bottom switch of the second half bridge converter are driven by a first drive signal from the control circuit and the bottom switch of the first half bridge converter and the top switch of the second half bridge converter are driven by a second drive signal from the control circuit, wherein the second drive signal is the logical inverse of the first drive signal.

25. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 14 wherein the top switch of the first half bridge converter and the bottom switch of the second half bridge converter are driven by a first drive signal from the control circuit and the bottom switch of the first half bridge converter and the top switch of the second half bridge converter are driven by a second drive signal from the control circuit, wherein the second drive signal is the logical inverse of the first drive signal.

26. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 15 wherein the top switch of the first half bridge converter and the bottom switch of the second half bridge converter are driven by a first drive signal from the control circuit and the bottom switch of the first half bridge converter and the top switch of the second half bridge converter are driven by a second drive signal from the control circuit, wherein the second drive signal is the logical inverse of the first drive signal.

27. A switched mode power supply as claimed in claim 12 including rectifiers connected to the outputs of the secondary windings of the transformer.

28. A method of producing a switched mode power supply comprising:

providing two discrete half bridge converters;

providing a control circuit;

connecting the half bridge converters so as to form a full bridge converter; and

connecting drive outputs of the control circuit to respective switches of the half bridge converters in such a manner that it drives the converters as a full bridge.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 including the step of connecting the outputs to series connected primary windings of respective output transformers.

30. A method as claimed in claim 28 including the step of connecting the top switch of the first half bridge converter and the bottom switch of the second half bridge converter to a first drive signal output of the control circuit and the bottom switch of the first half bridge converter and the top switch of the second half bridge converter to a second drive signal output of the control circuit, wherein the second drive signal is the logical inverse of the first drive signal.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29 including the step of connecting the top switch of the first half bridge converter and the bottom switch of the second half bridge converter to a first drive signal output of the control circuit and the bottom switch of the first half bridge converter and the top switch of the second half bridge converter to a second drive signal output of the control circuit, wherein the second drive signal is the logical inverse of the first drive signal.