Hybrid controlling and driving circuit and method thereof

• US 20110218692A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd. (Silergy Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd. (Silergy Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Wuhua
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load

Abstract

Methods, circuits, apparatus, and systems related to a hybrid driving and controlling circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid driving and controlling circuit in a double power supply system includes first and second power supplies and at least one load, and the circuit can include: (i) a controller coupled to a hybrid switcher that enables energy transfer from the first and second power supplies; (ii) when a determined energy of the first power supply is sufficient, the controller can control the hybrid switcher to transfer energy from the first power supply to the second power supply; and (iii) when the determined energy of the first power supply is insufficient, the controller can control the hybrid switcher to transfer energy from the second power supply to the at least one load.

Claims

1. A hybrid driving and controlling circuit in a double power supply system having first and second power supplies and at least one load, the circuit comprising:

a) a controller coupled to a hybrid switcher that enables energy transfer from said first and second power supplies;

b) when a determined energy of said first power supply is sufficient, said controller being configured to control said hybrid switcher to transfer energy from said first power supply to said second power supply; and

c) when said determined energy of said first power supply is insufficient, said controller being configured to control said hybrid switcher to transfer energy from said second power supply to said at least one load.

2. The hybrid driving and controlling circuit of claim 1, wherein:

a) when said determined energy of said first power supply is sufficient, said hybrid switcher is configured to operate in a buck converter mode; and

b) when said determined energy of said first power supply is insufficient, said hybrid switcher is configured to operate in a fly back converter mode.

3. The hybrid driving and controlling circuit of claim 2, further comprising a first power switch, a second power switch, and an inductive component that are shared in both of said buck and said fly-back converter modes of said hybrid switcher, wherein:

a) said first power supply, said second power supply, said first power switch, and said inductive component are coupled in series to form a loop; and

b) said second power switch is coupled in parallel with said first power supply.

4. The hybrid driving and controlling circuit of claim 3, wherein said hybrid switcher further comprises a blocking diode having a cathode electrically connected to said first power supply, said blocking diode having an anode electrically connected to said first power switch.

5. The hybrid driving and controlling circuit of claim 4, wherein said hybrid switcher further comprises:

a) an output diode coupled in series with said inductive component; and

b) an output capacitor coupled in parallel with said at least one load.

6. The hybrid driving and controlling circuit of claim 5, wherein said hybrid switcher further comprises a clamp capacitor having a first end connected between said blocking diode and said first power switch, said clamp capacitor having a second end connected to a common negative terminal of both said first power supply and said second power supply.

7. The hybrid driving and controlling circuit of claim 3, wherein said first power switch and said second power switch each comprise metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET) transistors.

8. A hybrid driving and controlling method for a double power supply system that comprises first and second power supplies, at least one load, and a controller, the method comprising:

a) sensing, by said controller, status information for said first power supply and said second power supply, wherein said status information comprises an indication of energy stored in said first power supply;

b) controlling, by a hybrid switcher, said first power supply to transfer energy to said second power supply if said stored energy in said first power supply is determined to be sufficient; and

c) controlling, by said hybrid switcher, said second power supply to transfer energy to said at least one load if said stored energy in said first power supply is determined to be insufficient.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said controlling said first power supply to transfer energy to said second power supply comprises controlling said hybrid switcher in a buck converter mode to transfer energy from said first power supply to said second power supply.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said controlling said second power supply to transfer energy to said at least one load comprises controlling said hybrid switcher in a fly back converter mode to transfer energy from said second power supply to said at least one load.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said hybrid switcher comprises a first power switch, a second power switch, and an inductive component, and wherein:

a) said first power supply, said second power supply, said first power switch, and said inductive component are coupled in series to form a loop; and

b) said second power switch is coupled in parallel with said first power supply.

12. A double power supply system, comprising:

a) a first power supply;

b) a second power supply;

c) at least one load configured to receive energy from at least one of said first power supply and said second power supply;

d) a hybrid driving and controlling circuit coupled to said first power supply, said second power supply, and said at least one load, wherein said hybrid driving and controlling circuit comprises a hybrid switcher coupled to a controller;

e) when energy stored in said first power supply is determined to be sufficient, said controller is configured to control said hybrid switcher to transfer energy from said first power supply to said second power supply; and

f) when energy stored in said first power supply is determined to be insufficient, said controller is configured to control said hybrid switcher to transfer energy from said second power supply to said at least one load.

13. The double power supply system of claim 12, wherein said first power supply comprises a solar panel configured to convert natural energy to electrical energy, and wherein said second power supply is configured to store energy.