CHARGE PUMPING APPARATUS USING OPTIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130162335A1
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
• Original Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
• Inventors: Kim, Chul-Woo, Kim, Jungmoon, Kim, Jihwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/536
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources maximum power point systems in particular G05F1/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/073 Charge pumps of the Schenkel-type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A charge pumping apparatus includes a voltage pumping unit for pumping an input voltage, a voltage pumping control unit for controlling the voltage pumping unit according to a comparison result between the input voltage and an input criterion voltage and a comparison result between an output voltage output from the voltage pumping unit and an output criterion voltage, and an optimum power point tracking unit for tracking an optimum power point in the case of detecting that the output voltage decreases lower than the output criterion voltage, and adjusting an input impedance to change the input criterion voltage to a voltage corresponding to the optimum power point, wherein the optimum power point is a power point where an input power according to the input voltage becomes a maximum. Since the optimum power point is tracked by measuring only a voltage without a current sensor, a power loss is small.

Claims

1. A charge pumping apparatus, comprising:

a voltage pumping unit for pumping an input voltage;

a voltage pumping control unit for controlling the voltage pumping unit according to a comparison result between the input voltage and an input criterion voltage and a comparison result between an output voltage output from the voltage pumping unit and an output criterion voltage; and

an optimum power point tracking unit for tracking an optimum power point in the case of detecting that the output voltage decreases lower than the output criterion voltage, and adjusting an input impedance to change the input criterion voltage to a voltage corresponding to the optimum power point, wherein the optimum power point is a power point where an input power according to the input voltage becomes a maximum.

2. The charge pumping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optimum power point tracking unit tracks the optimum power point while pumping the input criterion voltage to a predetermined criterion voltage and then lowering the pumped input criterion voltage at predetermined intervals.

3. The charge pumping apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optimum power point tracking unit lowers the input criterion voltage, pumped up to the criterion voltage, at the intervals by using a Digital/Analog (D/A) converter controlled by a counter.

4. The charge pumping apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the voltage pumping control unit operates the voltage pumping unit in a case where the input voltage is higher than the input criterion voltage and the output voltage is lower than the output criterion voltage, and

wherein the voltage pumping control unit stops the operation of the voltage pumping unit in a case where the input voltage is higher than the input criterion voltage and the output voltage is higher than the output criterion voltage.

5. A charge pumping method, comprising:

comparing an output voltage with an output criterion voltage;

tracking an optimum power point in a case where the output voltage decreases lower than the output criterion voltage; and

adjusting an input impedance to change an input criterion voltage to a voltage corresponding to the optimum power point,

wherein the optimum power point is a power point where an input power according to the input voltage becomes a maximum.

6. The charge pumping method according to claim 5, wherein said tracking of an optimum power point tracks the optimum power point while pumping the input criterion voltage to a predetermined criterion voltage and then lowering the pumped input criterion voltage at predetermined intervals.

7. The charge pumping method according to claim 6, wherein said tracking of an optimum power point lowers the input criterion voltage, pumped up to the criterion voltage, at the intervals by using a D/A converter controlled by a counter.

8. The charge pumping method according to claim 5,

wherein the input voltage is pumped in a case where the input voltage is higher than the input criterion voltage and the output voltage is lower than the output criterion voltage, and

wherein the input voltage is not pumped in a case where the input voltage is higher than the input criterion voltage and the output voltage is higher than the output criterion voltage.

9. A computer-readable recording medium on which programs for executing the method defined in claim 5 are recorded.