Integrated magnetic power converter

• US 5,208,739 A
• Filed: 01/07/1992
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Natel Engineering Company, Inc. (NEO Technology Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Powercube Corporation
• Inventors: Sturgeon, Clayton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIDSON, BEN
• Application Number:
  US07/817,600
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 363/20, 363/16, 363/21, 363/22, 363/24, 363/25, 323/355, 323/362, 336/214, 336/215
• US Class Current: 363/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0064 Magnetic structures combining different functions, e.g. storage, filtering or transformation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/337 in push-pull configuration H02M3/33576 takes precedence; with self-oscillating arrangements H02M3/3382, H02M3/3385
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3372 of the parallel type

Abstract

An integrated magnetic power converter for supplying power to a load includes a continuous magnetic structure having first and second legs and a magnetic path therebetween. Two transformers and two inductor devices are included on the core. The converter operates in four states determined by the state of two switches coupled to the transformer.

Claims

1. An integrated magnetic power converter for supplying power to a load comprising:

a continuous magnetic structure having first and second oppositely disposed legs and third and fourth oppositely disposed legs and magnetic path therebetween;

a first winding wound on said first leg;

a second winding wound on said second leg and connected to the load;

a third winding in series with said second winding and wound on said first leg;

first circuit means connected to said first winding for supplying energy to the power converter;

second circuit means connected in series with said second and third windings for transferring energy to the load;

third circuit means coupled to said second and third windings for transferring energy from said second winding to the load, such that when energy is supplied to said first winding for transformation to said second winding, a magnetic flux is produced in said magnetic path for power transfer to the load and an amount of energy is stored in the area surrounding said magnetic structure and said magnetic path, and when energy applied to said first winding is removed, said stored energy induces a magnetic flux in said magnetic path and energy is transferred to the load via said second and third windings and said third circuit means;

a fourth winding wound on said second leg;

a fifth winding wound on said first leg and connected to the load;

a sixth winding in series with said fifth winding and wound on said second leg;

fourth circuit means connected to said fourth winding for supplying energy to the power converter;

fifth circuit means coupled to said fifth and sixth windings for transferring energy to the load;

sixth circuit means connected in series with said fifth and sixth windings for transferring energy from said fifth winding to the load, such that when energy is supplied to said fourth winding for transformation to said fifth winding, a magnetic flux is produced in said magnetic path for power transfer to the load and an amount of energy is stored in the area surrounding said magnetic structure and said magnetic path, and when energy applied to said fourth winding is removed, said stored energy induces a magnetic flux in said magnetic path and energy is transferred to the load via said fifth and sixth windings and said sixth circuit means;

said third circuit means includes means for preventing current flow in said third winding while energy is being supplied to said first winding to thereby permit the storage of energy around said magnetic structure and to permit current flow from said third winding to the load when energy supplied to said first winding is removed, thereby generating an induced current in said second winding;

said third circuit means providing current for said third winding when energy is removed from said first winding, thereby removing voltage from said fourth winding to allow current to flow in said first and fourth windings without supplying energy through said first and fourth windings;

said sixth circuit means includes means for preventing current flow in said sixth winding while energy is being supplied to said fourth winding to thereby permit the storage of energy around said magnetic structure and to permit current flow from said sixth winding to the load when energy supplied to said fourth winding is removed, thereby generating an induced current in said fifth winding;

said sixth circuit means providing current for said sixth winding when energy is removed from said fourth winding, thereby removing voltage from said first winding to allow current to flow in said first and fourth windings without supplying energy through said first and fourth windings;

a seventh winding wound on said third leg; and

an eighth winding wound on said fourth leg, said seventh and eighth windings being in series.

2. The power converter of claim 1 wherein said first circuit means is connected to said first winding for preventing periodically occurring spaced power stroke time periods, such that when current flows in said first winding during a power stroke time period, current flows only in said second winding and energy is stored in the area around said magnetic structure in response to said current and when current flows in said third winding during a non-power stroke time period, current flows in said second winding.

3. The power converter of claim 2 wherein said third circuit means includes rectifier means in series with said second and third windings for permitting current to flow to the load only during time periods between said power stroke time periods.

4. The power converter of claim 2 wherein said second circuit means includes rectifier means in series with said second winding means for permitting current to flow to the load during power stroke time periods.

5. The power converter of claim 1 wherein said fourth circuit means is connected to said fourth winding for providing periodically occurring spaced power stroke time periods, such that when current flows in said fourth winding during a power stroke time period, current flows only in said fifth winding and energy is stored in the area around said magnetic structure in response to said current and when current flows in said sixth winding during a non-power stroke time period, current flows in said fifth winding.

6. The power converter of claim 5 wherein said sixth circuit means includes rectifier means in series with said fifth and sixth windings for permitting current to flow to the load only during time periods between said power stroke time periods.

7. The power converter of claim 5 wherein said fifth circuit means includes rectifier means in series with said fifth winding means for permitting current to flow to the load during power stroke time periods.