GENERALIZED AC-DC SYNCHRONOUS RECTIFICATION TECHNIQUES FOR SINGLE- AND MULTI-PHASE SYSTEMS

• US 20100046264A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Limited
• Original Assignee: ConvenientPower HK Limited
• Inventors: HO, Wing Choi, LIU, Xun, Choi, Wai Pong, HUI, Ron Shu Yuen
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/127
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0085 Partially controlled bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/219 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/2195 the switches being synchronously commutated at the same frequency of the AC input voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/06 Modifications for ensuring a fully conducting state
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/302 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/74 by the use, as active elements, of diodes by the use of more than one type of semiconductor device H03K17/567; by the use of tunnel diodes H03K17/58; by the use of negative resistance diodes H03K17/70
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/307 circuits simulating a diode, e.g. threshold zero
• 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

Various circuit configurations and topologies are provided for single and multi-phase, single-level or multi-level, full and half-bridge rectifiers in which diodes are replaced by combinations of voltage-controlled self-driven active switches, current-controlled self-driven active switches and inductors in order to reduce the effects of conduction loss in the diodes.

Claims

1. A half- or full-bridge rectifier configured to provide synchronous rectification with either a current-source or a voltage-source, said rectifier comprising an upper branch and a lower branch and at least two current loops, each said branch comprising voltage- or current-controlled active switches, inductors, diodes or combinations thereof selected such that each said loop includes one active switch, inductor or diode from said upper branch and one active switch, inductor or diode from said lower branch, and wherein each said current loop comprises at least one diode, inductor or current-controlled active switch, and wherein at least one voltage- or current-controlled active switch is included in one of said upper or lower branches and with the proviso that no current loop may contain two inductors.

2. A rectifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said voltage- and current-controlled active switches are self-driven and do not require external control signals.

3. A rectifier as claimed in claim 2 wherein a said voltage-controlled active switch is driven by an input ac voltage provided to said switch by a gate drive circuit.

4. A rectifier as claimed in claim 2 wherein a said current-controlled active switch is driven by sensing the current direction of the switch and providing a signal to a gate drive circuit dependent on the current direction.

5. A rectifier as claimed in claim 4 wherein a said active switch comprises a power MOSFET or some other semiconductor switching device.

6. A rectifier as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a sensing resistor for sensing the current direction.

7. A rectifier as claimed in claim 4 wherein the internal resistance of the current-controlled active switch is used for sensing the current direction.

8. A rectifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectifier is configured to receive a current source.

9. A rectifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectifier is configured to receive a voltage source.

10. A rectifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectifier is a single phase full-bridge rectifier comprising two current loops.

11. A rectifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein said upper branch comprises two voltage-controlled active switches and said lower branch comprises two current-controlled active switches, or one current-controlled switch and one diode, or two diodes.

12. A rectifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein said upper branch comprises one voltage-controlled active switch and one current-controlled active switch or diode, and the lower branch comprises one voltage-controlled active switch and one current-controlled active switch or diode, wherein said current-controlled active switch(es) or diode(s) are not provided in the same current loop.

13. A rectifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein said upper branch comprises one voltage-controlled active switch and one current-controlled active switch or diode, and the lower branch comprises two current-controlled active switches, or one current-controlled switch and one diode, or two diodes.

14. A rectifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein said upper branch comprises two current-controlled active switches, or one current-controlled switch and one diode, or two diodes, and the lower branch comprises two voltage-controlled active switches.

15. A rectifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein said upper branch comprises two current-controlled active switches, or one current-controlled switch and one diode, or two diodes, and the lower branch comprises one voltage-controlled active switch and one current-controlled switch or one diode.

16. A rectifier as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rectifier comprises only current-controlled active switches and/or diodes in the upper and lower branches and wherein at least one of the branches includes at least one current-controlled active switch,

17. A rectifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectifier is a half-bridge rectifier wherein the upper branch and the lower branch each comprises a capacitor and one of a current-controlled active switch, inductor or diode subject to the constraint that no more than one of the branches comprises a diode.

18. A rectifier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rectifier is a three-phase full-bridge rectifier comprising an upper branch and a lower branch and six current loops, each said branch comprising voltage- or current-controlled active switches, diodes or combinations thereof selected such that each said loop includes one active switch or diode from said upper branch and one active switch or diode from said lower branch, and wherein each said current loop comprises at least one diode or current-controlled active switch, and wherein at least one voltage- or current-controlled active switch is included in one of said upper or lower branches.

19. A rectifier as claimed in claim 18 wherein said upper branch comprises three current-controlled active switches or diodes.

20. A rectifier as claimed in claim 18 wherein said lower branch comprises three current-controlled active switches or diodes.

21. A rectifier as claimed in claim 18 wherein said lower branch and said upper branch each comprise two current-controlled active switches or diodes, and wherein each current loop comprises at least one current-controlled active switch or diode.

22. A multi-level rectifier wherein each level includes at least one circuit topology comprising an upper branch and a lower branch and two current loops, and wherein at least said circuit topology is configured such that each said branch comprises voltage- or current-controlled active switches, inductors, diodes or combinations thereof selected such that each said loop includes one active switch, inductor or diode from said upper branch and one active switch, inductor or diode from said lower branch, and wherein each said current loop comprises at least one diode, inductor or current-controlled active switch, and wherein at least one voltage- or current-controlled active switch is included in one of said upper or lower branches and with the proviso that no current loop may contain two inductors.

23. A current doubler comprising an upper branch and a lower branch and two current loops wherein the upper branch comprises two inductors, and the lower branch comprises voltage- or current-controlled active switches, diodes or combinations thereof, and the lower branch comprises at least one voltage-controlled active switch or at least one current-controlled active switch.