BOOST POWER FACTOR CORRECTION CONTROLLER

• US 20130163300A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd. (Silergy Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd. (Silergy Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhao, Chen, Yao, Jie
• Granted Patent: US 9,077,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/89
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/42 Circuits or arrangements for compensating for or adjusting power factor in converters or inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4225 using a non-isolated boost converter
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power factor correction (PFC) controller. In one embodiment, a boost PFC controller configured in an AC/DC converter can include: (i) a conductive signal generator configured to receive a first sampling signal, and to generate a conductive signal according to the first sampling signal and a first control signal; (ii) a shutdown signal generator configured to compare a second control signal against a third control signal, and to generate a shutdown signal when the second control signal reaches a level of the third control signal; and (iii) a logic controller coupled to the conductive signal generator and the shutdown signal generator to control a switching state of a power switch in AC/DC converter.

Claims

1. A power factor correction (PFC) controller configured for an AC/DC converter, the PFC controller comprising:

a) a conductive signal generator configured to receive a first sampling signal that represents an inductor current, wherein said first sampling signal is configured to be compared against a first control signal, wherein said first control signal is in proportion to and rises during a shutdown time of a power switch of said AC/DC converter, wherein when said first control signal reaches a level of said first sampling signal, said conductive signal generator is configured to output a conductive signal;

b) a shutdown signal generator configured to compare a second control signal against a third control signal, wherein said second control signal is in proportion to and rises during a conductive time of said power switch with a first proportionality coefficient, wherein said third control signal is in proportion to a duty cycle of said power switch with a second proportionality coefficient, wherein when said second control signal reaches a level of said third control signal, said shutdown signal generator is configured to output a shutdown signal; and

c) a logic controller coupled to said conductive signal generator and said shutdown signal generator, wherein when said conductive signal is activated, said logic controller is configured to turn said power switch on, and wherein when said shutdown signal is activated, said logic controller is configured to turn said power switch off.

2. The PFC controller of claim 1, wherein a proportion of said first proportionality coefficient to said second proportionality coefficient is substantially constant to maintain a switching cycle of said power switch as substantially constant.

3. The PFC controller of claim 1, wherein a proportion of said first proportionality coefficient to said second proportionality coefficient is adjustable such that a switching cycle of said power switch is configured to be variable.

4. The PFC controller of claim 1, further comprising an output voltage feedback loop, wherein said output voltage feedback loop is configured to receive an output voltage of said AC/DC converter, and to generate an output voltage control signal representing said output voltage.

5. The PFC controller of claim 4, wherein said output voltage feedback loop is coupled to said conductive signal generator to control said first control signal according to said output voltage control signal, and to maintain said output voltage as substantially constant.

6. The PFC controller of claim 1, wherein said conductive signal generator comprises:

a) an inductor current sampling circuit configured to detect said inductor current of said AC/DC converter, and to generate said first sampling signal;

b) a first control signal generator comprising a first current source, a first capacitor, and a first switch that are coupled in parallel, wherein a cross voltage on said first capacitor is configured as said first control signal, and wherein a switching state of said first switch is consistent with a switching state of said power switch; and

c) a first comparator configured to receive said first control signal and said first sampling signal, wherein when said first switch is shutdown, said first control signal is configured to rise until reaching a level of said first sampling signal, and said first comparator is configured to output said conductive signal.

7. The PFC controller of claim 6, wherein said first current source comprises a voltage controlled current source controlled by said output voltage control signal.

8. The PFC controller of claim 1, wherein said shutdown signal generator comprises:

a) a second control signal generator comprising a second current source, a second capacitor, and a second switch, wherein said second current source is coupled in series with said second switch, and said second capacitor is coupled in parallel with said second switch, wherein a cross voltage on said second capacitor is configured as said second control signal, wherein a switching state of said second switch is opposite to a switching state of said power switch, said first proportionality coefficient having a proportion of a current value of said second current source and a capacitance value of said second capacitor;

b) a third control signal generator comprising an averaging circuit, wherein said averaging circuit is configured to receive a first voltage source, said conductive signal, and said shutdown signal of said power switch, and to generate said third control signal, said second proportionality coefficient having a voltage value of said first voltage source; and

c) a second comparator configured to receive said second control signal and said third control signal, wherein said second control signal is configured to rise until reaching a level of said third control signal when said second switch is shutdown, and wherein said second comparator outputs said shutdown signal.

9. The PFC controller of claim 8, wherein said first voltage source comprises a constant voltage source, said second current source comprises a constant current source, and a switching cycle of said power switch is substantially constant.

10. The PFC controller of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first voltage source and said second current source is adjustable, and a switching cycle of said power switch is variable.

11. The PFC controller of claim 1, further comprising a feed forward circuit configured to receive a rectified input voltage, and to generate a peak voltage signal by peak detection, wherein a product of said peak voltage signal and said first sampling signal is configured to be compared against said first control signal to maintain said output voltage control signal in proportion to an input power of said AC/DC converter.

12. The PFC controller of claim 1, wherein said logic controller comprises an RS flip-flop, wherein a reset terminal of said RS flip-flop is coupled to said conductive signal generator, a set terminal of said RS flip-flop is coupled to said shutdown signal generator, and an output terminal of said RS flip-flop is configured to output a switching control signal to control a switching state of said power switch.