Lossless snubber

• US 5,055,991 A
• Filed: 10/12/1990
• Issued: 10/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ho, Jean H., Carroll, Barry N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOELTZ, EMANUEL T
• Application Number:
  US07/596,233
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 363/55-58, 363/20, 363/21, 361/90, 361/91, 361/111
• US Class Current: 363/56.11
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/346 Passive non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33546 with automatic control of the output voltage or current H02M3/33561 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/08142 in field-effect transistor switches
• 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 capacitor connected directly across the terminals of the primary inductance of a transformer of a switched mode power supply and a separately wound inductor connected between the primary inductance and the switching power transistor which form a lossless snubber circuit. The snubber circuit is more efficient since resistors are not used to dissipate the energy as unwanted heat. The capacitor increases the transistor turn off voltage rise time, thereby reducing radiated emissions. The inductor reduces emissions appreciably by absorbing the ringing that would otherwise occur after the transistor is turned fully off and increases the transistor turn on time.

Claims

1. A switched mode power supply, comprising:

means for providing a dc source voltage having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal;

a transformer having a primary inductance having a first terminal and a second terminal and having a secondary inductance having a first terminal and a second terminal;

means connected to said first terminal and said second terminal of said secondary inductance for providing a regulated output voltage;

a capacitor connected between said first terminal and said second terminal of said primary inductance;

a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor having a drain terminal, a source terminal, and a gate terminal;

an inductor connected in series between said second terminal of said primary inductance and said drain terminal of said transistor;

means for monitoring current through said primary inductance connected between said source of said transistor and said negative terminal of said dc source voltage; and

means connected to said regulated output voltage, said means for monitoring current through said primary inductance, and said gate terminal of said transistor for providing a control signal to said gate of said transistor to turn on and off said transistor to cause switching action.

2. The power supply of claim 1, wherein said transformer further has an inductance coupled out of phase with said primary inductance, said out of phase inductance having a first terminal connected to said positive terminal of said dc source voltage;

and

said power supply further comprising;

a diode with the anode of said diode connected to said negative terminal of said dc source voltage and the cathode of said diode connected to said second terminal of said out of phase inductance.