Multiple-output, single-ended, resonant power converter

• US 5,038,264 A
• Filed: 06/11/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Steigerwald, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US07/535,687
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 363/18, 363/19, 363/20, 363/21, 323/267
• US Class Current: 363/21.02
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• 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 single-ended, resonant power converter includes an input filter having at least one primary winding and multiple auxiliary, or secondary, windings. A regulated input DC voltage is transformed directly to the auxiliary windings. The voltages across the auxiliary windings are respectively rectified and filtered to provide multiple, auxiliary, regulated output voltages which are independent of the main output voltage and converter switching frequency.

Claims

1. A DC-to-DC power converter, comprising:

an input filter inductor including a primary winding for receiving a substantially regulated input DC voltage;

a switching device coupled to said primary winding, said switching device having a parasitic capacitance coupled in parallel therewith;

control means for providing a control signal to turn on said switching device only when there is substantially zero voltage thereacross;

a resonant circuit for providing a first AC voltage at the output thereof, said resonant circuit including at least one reactive element in series with said parasitic capacitance during at least a portion of each cycle of said control signal;

output transformer means for receiving said first Ac voltage and transforming said first AC voltage to a second AC voltage;

first rectifying means for rectifying said second AC voltage to provide a main output DC voltage;

multiple secondary windings coupled to the primary winding of said input filter inductor for transforming said substantially regulated input DC voltage to respective secondary voltages;

a plurality of auxiliary rectifying means for rectifying said secondary voltages and respectively providing multiple, substantially regulated, output DC voltages, said multiple regulated output voltages being independent of said main output DC voltage; and

an output capacitor coupled to each of said secondary windings for respectively maintaining the voltage thereacross when said switching device is turned off, said multiple regulated output voltages being independent of the switching frequency of said switching device.

2. The converter of claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises means for varying the switching frequency of said switching device to vary said main output DC voltage.

3. The converter of claim 1 wherein one of said auxiliary rectifying means is coupled to said control means for providing power thereto.

4. The converter of claim 1, further comprising a series pass regulator coupled to each said output capacitor for providing further regulation of each of said regulated output DC voltages, respectively.

5. A DC-to-DC power converter, comprising:

input choke means including two primary windings for receiving a substantially regulated input DC voltage and dividing said input DC voltage therebetween;

a switching device coupled to each of said primary windings, said switching device having a parasitic capacitance coupled in parallel therewith;

control means for providing a control signal to turn on said switching device only when there is substantially zero voltage thereacross;

a resonant circuit for providing a first AC voltage at the output thereof, said resonant circuit including at least one reactive element in series with said parasitic capacitance during at least a portion of each cycle of said control signal;

output transformer means for receiving said first AC voltage and transforming said first AC voltage to a second AC voltage;

first rectifying means for rectifying said second AC voltage to provide a main output DC voltage;

multiple secondary windings coupled to each of said primary windings for transforming said substantially regulated input DC voltage to respective secondary voltages;

a plurality of auxiliary rectifying means for rectifying said secondary voltages and respectively providing multiple, substantially regulated, output DC voltages, said multiple regulated output voltages being independent of said main output DC voltage; and

an output capacitor coupled to each of said secondary windings for respectively maintaining the voltage thereacross when said switching device is turned off, said multiple regulated output voltages being independent of the switching frequency of said switching device.

6. The converter of claim 5 wherein said control means further comprises means for varying the switching frequency of said switching device to vary said main output DC voltage.

7. The converter of claim 5 wherein one of said auxiliary rectifying means is coupled to said control means for providing power thereto.

8. The converter of claim 5, further comprising a series pass regulator coupled to each said output capacitor for providing further regulation of each of said regulated output DC voltages, respectively.