POWER CONVERTERS

• US 20100226154A1
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science & Technology (Government of Taiwan)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science & Technology (Government of Taiwan)
• Inventors: Leu, Ching-Shan
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/106
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/342 Active non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33569 having several active switching elements H02M3/3353 takes precedence
• 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

A power converter capable of improving converter'"'"'s efficiency and achieving zero-voltage-switching is provided, in which a first series circuit is connected in parallel with a direct current (DC) power supply and has a first inductor, a first primary winding, first and second switching elements connected in series. A second series circuit is connected in parallel with the DC power supply and has third and fourth switching elements, a first capacitor, a second primary winding and a second inductor connected in series. A second capacitor is connected between a first node between the first primary winding and the first switching element in the first series circuit and a second node between the fourth switching element and the second primary winding in the second series circuit. A third node between the first and second switching elements is connected to a fourth node within the second series circuit.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a first series circuit connected in parallel with a direct current (DC) power supply and comprising a first inductor, a first primary winding, a first switching element and a second switching element connected in series;

a second series circuit connected in parallel with the DC power supply and comprising a third switching element, a first capacitor, a fourth switching element, a second primary winding and a second inductor connected in series; and

a second capacitor connected between a first node within the first series circuit and a second node within the second series circuit, in which the first node is between the first primary winding and the first switching element, the second node is between the fourth switching element and the second primary winding, and a third node between the first and second switching elements is connected to a fourth node within the second series circuit.

2. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first primary winding, the second primary winding and at least secondary winding form a transformer.

3. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth node is a connection node between the third switching element and the first capacitor.

4. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth node is a connection node between the first capacitor and the fourth switching element.

5. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second inductors are parasitic inductors or external inductors.

6. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a converter controller to control the switching elements in an asymmetrical mode.

7. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a converter controller to control the switching elements in a phase shift mode.

8. The power converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the switching elements comprises one MOSFET, one IGBT, one electromechanical switch, one micro-machined switch, or one other active semiconductor switch with a parallel-connected diode.

9. A power converter, comprising:

a first inductor connected to a direct current (DC) power supply in series;

a first series circuit connected in parallel with the series-connected DC power supply and first inductor, and comprising a second inductor, a first primary winding, a first switching element, a second switching element, a second primary winding and a third inductor connected in series;

a second series circuit connected in parallel with the series-connected DC power supply and first inductor, and comprising a fourth inductor, a third primary winding, a third switching element, a first capacitor, a fourth switching element, a fourth primary winding and a fifth inductor connected in series;

a second capacitor connected between a first node within the first series circuit and a second node within the second series circuit, in which the first node is between the first primary winding and the first switching element, and the second node is between the fourth switching element and the fourth primary winding; and

a third capacitor connected between a third node within the first series circuit and a fourth node within the second series circuit, in which the third node is between the second switching element and the second primary winding, the fourth node is between the third primary winding and the third switching element, and a fifth node between the first and second switching elements is connected to a sixth node within the second series circuit.

10. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sixth node is a connection node between the third switching element and the first capacitor.

11. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sixth node is a connection node between the first capacitor and the fourth switching element.

12. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first to the fifth inductors are parasitic inductors or external inductors.

13. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, the first to the fourth primary windings and at least secondary winding form a transformer.

14. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, the first primary winding, the fourth primary winding and a first secondary winding form a first transformer, and the second primary winding, the third primary winding and a second secondary winding form a second transformer.

15. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a converter controller to control the switching elements in an asymmetrical mode.

16. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a converter controller to control the switching elements in a phase shift mode.

17. The power converter as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the switching elements comprises one MOSFET, one IGBT, one electromechanical switch, one micro-machined switch, or one other active semiconductor switch with a parallel-connected diode