Power Adapter Employing a Power Reducer

• US 20100321964A1
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Systems Technologies Company Limited (Flex, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Power Systems Technologies Company Limited (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Garrity, Paul, Jungreis, Aaron, Brinlee, Antony
• Granted Patent: US 8,643,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/21.18
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take 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 adapter including a power reducer for no-load or light load applications and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power adapter includes a capacitor coupled to an input of the power adapter, and a bleeder switch coupled in parallel with the capacitor. The power adapter also includes a detection circuit configured to sense an ac mains voltage at the input of the power adapter and turn on the bleeder switch upon detection of a loss of the ac mains voltage. In addition to or in lieu of, the power adapter may include a power converter, and a disconnect switch configured to disconnect the ac mains voltage from the power converter in response to a signal from a load.

Claims

1. A power adapter, comprising:

a capacitor coupled to an input of said power adapter;

a bleeder switch coupled in parallel with said capacitor; and

a detection circuit configured to sense an ac mains voltage at said input of said power adapter and turn on said bleeder switch upon detection of a loss of said ac mains voltage.

2. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein said capacitor is an X-capacitor.

3. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a bleeder resistor coupled in series with said bleeder switch.

4. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein said detection circuit is configured to detect said loss of said ac mains voltage by sensing a voltage across said capacitor with a peak detector.

5. The power adapter as recited in claim 4 wherein said detection circuit is configured to detect said loss of said ac mains voltage by sensing a change of voltage across said peak detector in accordance with a coupling capacitor.

6. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein said detection circuit is configured to detect said loss of said ac mains voltage in accordance with a plurality of diodes adapted to sense both polarities of said ac mains voltage.

7. The power adapter as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a power converter; and

a disconnect switch configured to disconnect said ac mains voltage from said power converter in response to a signal from a load.

8. The power adapter as recited in claim 7 wherein said power converter is a flyback converter.

9. The power adapter as recited in claim 7 wherein said signal from said load is coupled to said disconnect switch through a signal-coupling capacitor.

10. The power adapter as recited in claim 9 further comprising an oscillator coupled to said signal-coupling capacitor.

11. The power adapter as recited in claim 10 further comprising a voltage doubler coupled to said oscillator and said signal-coupling capacitor.

12. The power adapter as recited in claim 7 wherein said disconnect switch is configured to disconnect said ac mains voltage from said power converter when said signal from said load is a high value.

13. A power adapter, comprising:

a rectifier;

a power converter coupled to a dc side of said rectifier; and

a disconnect switch on said dc side of said rectifier configured to disconnect an ac mains voltage from said power converter in response to a signal from a load containing an independent power source, wherein said independent power source provides signal power for circuitry in said power adapter to enable said disconnect.

14. The power adapter as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

a capacitor coupled to an input of said power adapter;

a bleeder switch coupled in parallel with said capacitor; and

a detection circuit configured to sense said ac mains voltage at said input of said power adapter and turn on said bleeder switch upon detection of a loss of said ac mains voltage.

15. The power adapter as recited in claim 13 wherein said power converter is a flyback converter.

16. The power adapter as recited in claim 13 wherein said signal from said load is coupled to said disconnect switch through a signal-coupling capacitor.

17. The power adapter as recited in claim 16 wherein said signal-coupling capacitor is a Y-capacitor.

18. The power adapter as recited in claim 16 wherein said circuitry comprises an oscillator coupled to said signal-coupling capacitor.

19. The power adapter as recited in claim 18 further comprising a voltage doubler coupled to said oscillator and said signal-coupling capacitor.

20. The power adapter as recited in claim 13 wherein said disconnect switch is configured to connect said ac mains voltage to said power converter when said independent power source is unable to provide said signal power.

21. A method of operating a power adapter including a power converter, comprising:

coupling a capacitor to an input of said power adapter;

parallel-coupling a bleeder switch to said capacitor;

sensing an ac mains voltage at said input of said power adapter; and

turning on said bleeder switch upon detection of a loss of said ac mains voltage.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said sensing comprises sensing a change of voltage across said capacitor.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said sensing is performed with a peak detector.

24. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising disconnecting said ac mains voltage from said power converter in response to a signal from a load.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein said disconnecting occurs on a dc side of a rectifier of said power adapter in response to said signal from said load, wherein said load comprises an independent power source that provides signal power to circuitry in said power adapter.