Controller for a Power Converter

• US 20110149607A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• 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 8,520,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/21.02
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• 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 employing a controller configured to increase a dead time between conduction periods of first and second power switches therein and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power converter includes first and second power switches coupled to an input thereof, and a sensor configured to provide a sensed signal representative of at least one of a current level and a power level of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to increase a dead time between conduction periods of the first and second power switches when the sensed signal indicates a decrease of at least one of the current level and the power level of the power converter.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

first and second power switches coupled to an input of said power converter;

a sensor configured to provide a sensed signal representative of at least one of a current level and a power level of said power converter; and

a controller configured to increase a dead time between conduction periods of said first and second power switches when said sensed signal indicates a decrease of at least one of said current level and said power level of said power converter.

2. The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said conduction periods of said first and second power switches are substantially constant.

3. The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to control said conduction period of at least one of said first and second power switches to be substantially equal to a half period of a resonant circuit of said power converter.

4. The power converter as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer coupled to said first and second power switches; and

a resonant circuit coupled to a primary winding of said transformer, wherein said sensor is configured to provide said sensed signal by monitoring an average ripple voltage of said resonant circuit.

5. The power converter as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer coupled to said first and second power switches; and

a resonant circuit including a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor coupled to a primary winding of said transformer.

6. The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a sense capacitor, a clamp diode, and at least one delay resistor, and said controller includes a timing resistor, a timing capacitor and a one-shot.

7. The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor is configured to limit a value of said sensed signal, thereby limiting a modification of said dead time to a dead time limit.

8. The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to control said dead time to control a switching frequency of said first and second power switches.

9. The power converter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a diode and a parallel-coupled impedance coupled to a secondary winding of a transformer of said power converter, said impedance being configured to convert a damped oscillatory voltage produced across said diode to a dc current supplied to an output of said power converter.

10. The power converter as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to control said conduction period of at least one of said first and second power switches to reduce a ripple voltage with respect to an input voltage source at said input of said power converter.

11. A method of operating a power converter, comprising:

coupling first and second power switches to an input of said power converter;

providing a sensed signal representative of at least one of a current level and a power level of said power converter; and

controlling said first and second power switches by increasing a dead time between conduction periods thereof when said sensed signal indicates a decrease of at least one of said current level and said power level of said power converter.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said controlling said first and second power switches includes controlling said conduction periods of said first and second power switches to be substantially constant.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said controlling said first and second power switches includes controlling said conduction period of at least one of said first and second power switches to be substantially equal to a half period of a resonant circuit of said power converter.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

coupling a transformer to said first and second power switches;

coupling a resonant circuit to a primary winding of said transformer; and

providing said sensed signal by monitoring an average ripple voltage of said resonant circuit.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

coupling a transformer to said first and second power switches; and

coupling a resonant circuit including a resonant inductor and a resonant capacitor to a primary winding of said transformer.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said providing said sensed signal is performed by a sensor including sense capacitor, a clamp diode, and at least one delay resistor and said controlling said first and second power switches is performed by a controller including a timing resistor, a timing capacitor and a one-shot.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said providing said sensed signal is configured to limit a value of said sensed signal, thereby limiting a modification of said dead time to a dead time limit.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said controlling said first and second power switches includes controlling a switching frequency thereof.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

coupling a transformer to said first and second power switches;

coupling a diode to a secondary winding of said transformer, and

converting a damped oscillatory voltage produced across said diode to a dc current supplied to an output of said power converter.

20. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said controlling said first and second power switches includes controlling said conduction period of at least one of said first and second power switches to reduce a ripple voltage with respect to an input voltage source at said input of said power converter.