NOVEL CONTROL METHOD TO REDUCE SWITCHING LOSS ON MOSFET
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a switching mode power converter comprising;
- a. configuring a switching mode power converter having a transformer, an output circuit coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a switch coupled to a primary winding of the transformer;
b. determining a threshold condition in the output circuit for which the switch is to be switched ON;
c. enabling a negative secondary current through the secondary winding of the transformer in response to determining the threshold condition, wherein the negative secondary current generates a corresponding discharge current through the primary winding, further wherein the discharge current reduces a voltage across the switch;
d. determining when the voltage across the switch drops to a threshold value; and
e. switching the switch ON once the voltage drops to the threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling a switching mode power converter enables zero voltage switching by forcing a voltage across the main switch to zero. This is accomplished by sensing when a current on the secondary side of the power converter drops to zero, or other threshold value, and then generating a negative current through the secondary winding in response. The negative secondary current results in a corresponding discharge current in the primary winding, which reduces the voltage across the main switch. The voltage across the main switch is monitored such that when the voltage reaches zero, or other threshold value, the main switch is turned ON. In this manner, the circuit functions as a bi-directional current circuit where a forward current delivers energy to a load and a reverse current provides control for reducing the voltage across the main switch to enable zero voltage switching.
30 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a switching mode power converter comprising;
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a. configuring a switching mode power converter having a transformer, an output circuit coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a switch coupled to a primary winding of the transformer; b. determining a threshold condition in the output circuit for which the switch is to be switched ON; c. enabling a negative secondary current through the secondary winding of the transformer in response to determining the threshold condition, wherein the negative secondary current generates a corresponding discharge current through the primary winding, further wherein the discharge current reduces a voltage across the switch; d. determining when the voltage across the switch drops to a threshold value; and e. switching the switch ON once the voltage drops to the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling a switching mode power converter comprising:
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a. configuring a switching mode power converter having a transformer, an output circuit coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer, and a switch coupled to a primary winding of the transformer, wherein the power converter circuit is configured to store energy in the primary winding while the switch is ON and a positive primary current flows through the primary winding, and to deliver the stored energy from the primary winding to the output circuit while the switch is OFF and a positive secondary current flows through the secondary winding; b. sensing the secondary current to determine when the secondary current drops from positive to zero while the switch is OFF; c. enabling a negative secondary current through the secondary winding upon determining that the secondary current drops from positive to zero, wherein the negative secondary current generates a corresponding negative primary current through the primary winding, further wherein the negative primary current reduces a voltage across the switch; d. determining when the voltage across the switch drops to a threshold value; and e. switching the switch ON once the voltage drops to the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A switching mode power converter comprising:
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a. a transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input supply voltage and a secondary winding; b. a switch coupled in series to the primary winding; c. a first controller coupled to the switch, wherein the first controller is configured to turn the switch ON and OFF; and d. an output circuit coupled to the secondary winding, wherein the output circuit comprises a second controller configured to determine a threshold condition in the output circuit for which the switch is to be switched ON, the second controller is further configured to enable a negative secondary current through the secondary winding of the transformer in response to determining the threshold condition, wherein the negative secondary current generates a corresponding discharge current through the primary winding that reduces a voltage across the switch, wherein the first controller is further configured to determine when the voltage across the switch drops to a threshold value, and to switch ON the switch once the voltage drops to the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A switching mode power converter comprising:
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a. a transformer having a primary winding coupled to an input supply voltage and a secondary winding; b. a first switch coupled in series to the primary winding; c. a first controller coupled to the first switch, wherein the first controller is configured to turn the first switch ON and OFF; d. a diode coupled in series to the secondary winding; e. a second switch coupled in parallel to the diode; f. a second controller coupled to the second switch, wherein the second controller is configured to turn the second switch ON and OFF; g. an output capacitor coupled to the diode and to the second switch; and h. a sensing circuit coupled to the secondary winding and to the second controller, wherein the second controller is configured to determine a threshold condition according to data sensed by the sensing circuit and to switch ON the second switch when the threshold condition is achieved thereby forming an alternative current path for a negative secondary current to flow from the output capacitor to the secondary winding, the negative secondary current generates a corresponding discharge current through the primary winding that reduces a voltage across the first switch, wherein the first controller is further configured to determine when the voltage across the first switch drops to a threshold value, and to switch ON the first switch once the voltage drops to the threshold value.
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Specification