Automatic gain selection for high power factor

• US 5,359,276 A
• Filed: 05/12/1993
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unitrode Corp. (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Unitrode Corp. (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mammano, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, YOUNGHUIE JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US08/061,630
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 323/207, 323/210, 323/222, 323/259, 323/285, 363/16, 363/89
• US Class Current: 323/207
• 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

A high power factor regulator circuit which includes a variable multiplier, permitting the high power factor regulator circuit to be used with a number of input line voltage levels. In one embodiment a comparator determines the multiplication or gain factor to be applied in a control loop by comparing the rectified AC input voltage to a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. A high power factor circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, said high power factor circuit comprising:

a multiplier circuit having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal, a control terminal and an output terminal for providing a signal to control an output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal;

an output voltage amplifier having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit output terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an output reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit second input terminal, said output voltage amplifier providing a signal at said output voltage amplifier output terminal in response to comparing said output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal with said output reference voltage;

an input voltage comparator having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an input reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit control terminal, said input voltage comparator providing a signal at said input voltage comparator output terminal in response to comparing an input voltage at said high power factor circuit input terminal with said input reference voltage,

said multiplier circuit providing one of at least two fixed gains in response to said signal applied to said multiplier circuit control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

2. A high power factor circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, said high power factor circuit comprising:

a multiplier circuit having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal, a control terminal and an output terminal for providing a signal to control an output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal, said multiplier circuit comprising;

a multiplier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein said multiplier first input terminal is said first input terminal of said multiplier circuit and said multiplier output terminal is said output terminal of said multiplier circuit;

a gain amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, wherein said gain amplifier output terminal is in electrical communication with said multiplier second input terminal and wherein said gain amplifier input terminal is said second input terminal of said multiplier circuit; and

a switch having a first terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier input terminal, a second terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier output terminal and a control terminal, wherein said switch control terminal is said control terminal of said multiplier circuit,

said switch switchably connecting said switch first terminal to said switch second terminal in response to a signal applied to said switch control terminal;

an output voltage amplifier having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit output terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an output reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit second input terminal, said output voltage amplifier providing a signal at said output voltage amplifier output terminal in response to comparing said output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal with said output reference voltage;

an input voltage comparator having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an input reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit control terminal, said input voltage comparator providing a signal at said input voltage comparator output terminal in response to comparing an input voltage at said high power factor circuit input terminal with said input reference voltage,

said multiplier circuit providing a preselected gain in response to said signal applied to said multiplier circuit control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

3. A high power factor circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, said high power factor circuit comprising:

a multiplier circuit having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal, a control terminal and an output terminal for providing a signal to control an output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal, said multiplier circuit comprising;

a multiplier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein said multiplier first input terminal is said first input terminal of said multiplier circuit and said multiplier second input terminal is said multiplier circuit second input terminal;

a gain amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, said gain amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier output terminal and wherein said gain amplifier output terminal is said output terminal of said multiplier circuit; and

a switch having a first terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier input terminal, a second terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier output terminal and a control terminal, wherein said switch control terminal is said control terminal of said multiplier circuit,

said switch switchably connecting said switch first terminal to said switch second terminal in response to a signal applied to said switch control terminal;

an output voltage amplifier having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit output terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an output reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit second input terminal, said output voltage amplifier providing a signal at said output voltage amplifier output terminal in response to comparing said output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal with said output reference voltage;

an input voltage comparator having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an input reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit control terminal, said input voltage comparator providing a signal at said input voltage comparator output terminal in response to comparing an input voltage at said high power factor circuit input terminal with said input reference voltage,

said multiplier circuit providing a preselected gain in response to said signal applied to said multiplier circuit control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

4. A high power factor circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, said high power factor circuit comprising:

a multiplier circuit having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal, a control terminal and an output terminal for providing a signal to control an output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal, said multiplier circuit comprising;

a multiplier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal, wherein said multiplier second input terminal is said second input terminal of said multiplier circuit and said multiplier output terminal is said output terminal of said multiplier circuit;

a gain amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, said gain amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier first input terminal and wherein said amplifier input terminal is said first input terminal of said multiplier circuit; and

a switch having a first terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier input terminal, a second terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier output terminal and a control terminal, wherein said switch control terminal is said control terminal of said multiplier circuit,

said switch connecting said switch first terminal to said switch second terminal in response to a signal applied to said switch control terminal;

an output voltage amplifier having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit output terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an output reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit second input terminal, said output voltage amplifier providing a signal at said output voltage amplifier output terminal in response to comparing said output voltage at said high power factor circuit output terminal with said output reference voltage;

an input voltage comparator having a first input terminal in electrical communication with said high power factor circuit input terminal, a second input terminal in communication with an input reference voltage and an output terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier circuit control terminal, said input voltage comparator providing a signal at said input voltage comparator output terminal in response to comparing an input voltage at said high power factor circuit input terminal with said input reference voltage,

said multiplier circuit providing a preselected gain in response to said signal applied to said multiplier circuit control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

5. A high power factor circuit comprising:

a first input-voltage terminal and a second input-voltage terminal for connection to a rectified AC line supply;

an output-voltage terminal;

a pulse width modulator comprising a pulse width modulator output terminal and a pulse width modulator input terminal;

a boost converter comprising a first boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal, a second boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said first output-voltage terminal, a third boost converter terminal in switchable electrical communication with said second input-voltage terminal, and a fourth boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said pulse width modulator output terminal, said third boost converter terminal being switchable in response to signals applied to said fourth boost converter terminal from said pulse width modulator output terminal;

an output voltage sensing circuit comprising a first output-voltage sensing terminal and a second output-voltage sensing terminal, said first output-voltage sensing terminal in electrical communication with said output voltage terminal;

an input-voltage sensing circuit comprising a first input-voltage sensing terminal and a second input-voltage sensing terminal, said first input-voltage sensing terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal;

a current sensing circuit in electrical communication with said second input-voltage terminal, said current sensing circuit comprising a current sensing circuit output terminal and producing a current signal in response to current flowing in said high power factor circuit;

a current amplifier comprising a first current amplifier input terminal, a second current amplifier input terminal, and a current amplifier output terminal, said first current amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said current sensing circuit output terminal and said current amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said pulse width modulator input terminal;

a multiplier comprising a first multiplier input terminal in electrical communication with said second input voltage sensing terminal, a second multiplier input terminal and a multiplier output terminal in electrical communication with said second current amplifier input terminal;

an input-voltage comparator circuit comprising a first input-voltage comparator circuit input terminal in electrical communication with a threshold reference voltage, a second input-voltage comparator circuit input terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal and an input-voltage comparator circuit output terminal;

an output-voltage amplifier comprising a first output-voltage amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with an output reference voltage, a second output-voltage amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said second output-voltage sensing terminal, and an output-voltage amplifier output terminal;

a gain amplifier circuit comprising a gain amplifier circuit input terminal in electrical communication with said output-voltage amplifier output terminal, and a gain amplifier circuit output terminal in electrical communication with said second multiplier input terminal; and

a switch circuit comprising a switch circuit input terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier circuit input terminal, a switch circuit output terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier circuit output terminal and a switch control terminal in electrical communication with said input-voltage comparator circuit output terminal,

wherein said switch circuit connects said switch circuit input terminal to said switch circuit output terminal in response to a signal applied to said switch circuit control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

6. The high power factor circuit of claim 5 wherein

said input-voltage comparator circuit comprises a plurality of input-voltage comparators each of said input-voltage comparators having a first input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication a respective reference voltage, a second input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal, and an input-voltage comparator output terminal;

said gain amplifier circuit comprises a plurality of serially coupled gain amplifiers, each gain amplifier comprising a gain amplifier input terminal and a gain amplifier output terminal, a first one of said plurality of gain amplifiers having an input terminal in electrical communication with the input terminal of said gain amplifier circuit, a second one of said plurality of gain amplifiers having an output terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said gain amplifier circuit; and

said switch circuit comprises a plurality of switches, each of said switches comprising a switch input terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said gain amplifier input terminals, a switch output terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said gain amplifier output terminals and a switch control terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said input-voltage comparator output terminals,

wherein each said switch connects said respective switch input terminal to said respective switch output terminal in response to a signal applied to said respective switch control terminal from said respective input voltage comparator output terminal.

7. A high power factor circuit comprising:

a first input-voltage terminal and a second input-voltage terminal for connection to a rectified AC line supply;

an output-voltage terminal;

a pulse width modulator comprising a pulse width modulator output terminal and a pulse width modulator input terminal;

a boost converter comprising a first boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal, a second boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said output-voltage terminal, a third boost converter terminal in switchable electrical communication with said second input-voltage terminal, and a fourth boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said pulse width modulator output terminal, said third boost converter terminal being switchable in response to signals applied to said fourth boost converter terminal from said pulse width modulator output terminal;

an output voltage sensing circuit comprising a first output-voltage sensing terminal and a second output-voltage sensing terminal, said first output-voltage sensing terminal in electrical communication with said output voltage terminal;

an input-voltage sensing circuit comprising a first input-voltage sensing terminal and a second input-voltage sensing terminal, said first input-voltage sensing terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal;

a current sensing circuit in electrical communication with said second input-voltage terminal, said current sensing circuit comprising a current sensing circuit output terminal and producing a current signal in response to current flowing in said high power factor circuit;

a current amplifier comprising a first current amplifier input terminal, a second current amplifier input terminal, and a current amplifier output terminal, said first current amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said current sensing circuit output terminal and said current amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said pulse width modulator input terminal;

a multiplier comprising a first multiplier input terminal in electrical communication with said second input voltage sensing terminal, a second multiplier input terminal and a multiplier output terminal;

an input-voltage comparator comprising a first input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with a threshold reference voltage, a second input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal and an input-voltage comparator output terminal;

an output-voltage amplifier comprising a first output-voltage amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with an output reference voltage, a second output-voltage amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said second output-voltage sensing terminal, and an output-voltage amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said second multiplier input terminal;

a gain amplifier comprising a gain amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said multiplier output terminal and a gain amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said second current amplifier input terminal; and

a switch comprising a switch input terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier input terminal, a switch output terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier output terminal and a switch control terminal in electrical communication with said input-voltage comparator output terminal,

wherein said switch connects said switch input terminal to said switch output terminal in response to a signal applied to said switch control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

8. The high power factor circuit of claim 7 wherein

said input-voltage comparator circuit comprises a plurality of input-voltage comparators each of said input-voltage comparators having a first input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication a respective reference voltage, a second input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal, and an input-voltage comparator output terminal;

said gain amplifier circuit comprises a plurality of serially coupled gain amplifiers, each gain amplifier comprising a gain amplifier input terminal and a gain amplifier output terminal, a first one of said plurality of gain amplifiers having an input terminal in electrical communication with the input terminal of said gain amplifier circuit, a second one of said plurality of gain amplifiers having an output terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said gain amplifier circuit; and

said switch circuit comprises a plurality of switches, each of said switches comprising a switch input terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said gain amplifier input terminals, a switch output terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said gain amplifier output terminals and a switch control terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said input-voltage comparator output terminals,

wherein each said switch connects said respective switch input terminal to said respective switch output terminal in response to a signal applied to said respective switch control terminal from said respective input voltage comparator output terminal.

9. A high power factor circuit comprising:

a first input-voltage terminal and a second input-voltage terminal for connection to a rectified AC line supply;

an output-voltage terminal;

a pulse width modulator comprising a pulse width modulator output terminal and a pulse width modulator input terminal;

a boost converter comprising a first boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal, a second boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said output-voltage terminal, a third boost converter terminal in switchable electrical communication with said second input-voltage terminal, and a fourth boost converter terminal in electrical communication with said pulse width modulator output terminal, said third boost converter terminal being switchable in response to signals applied to said fourth boost converter terminal from said pulse width modulator output terminal;

an output voltage sensing circuit comprising a first output-voltage sensing terminal and a second output-voltage sensing terminal, said first output-voltage sensing terminal in electrical communication with said output-voltage terminal;

an input-voltage sensing circuit comprising a first input-voltage sensing terminal and a second input-voltage sensing terminal, said first input-voltage sensing terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal;

a current sensing circuit in electrical communication with said second input-voltage terminal, said current sensing circuit comprising a current sensing circuit output terminal and producing a current signal in response to current flowing in said high power factor circuit;

a current amplifier comprising a first current amplifier input terminal, a second current amplifier input terminal, and a current amplifier output terminal, said first current amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said current sensing circuit output terminal and said current amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said pulse width modulator input terminal;

a multiplier comprising a first multiplier input terminal, a second multiplier input terminal and a multiplier output terminal in electrical communication with said second current amplifier input terminal;

an input-voltage comparator comprising a first input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with a threshold reference voltage, a second input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal and an input-voltage comparator output terminal;

an output-voltage amplifier comprising a first output-voltage amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with an output reference voltage, a second output-voltage amplifier input terminal in electrical communication with said second output-voltage sensing terminal, and an output-voltage amplifier output terminal in electrical communication with said second multiplier input terminal;

a gain amplifier comprising an input terminal in electrical communication with said second input-voltage sense terminal and an output terminal in electrical communication with said first multiplier input terminal; and

a switch comprising a switch input terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier input terminal, a switch output terminal in electrical communication with said gain amplifier output terminal and a switch control terminal in electrical communication with said input-voltage comparator output terminal,

wherein said switch connects said switch input terminal to said switch output terminal in response to a signal applied to said switch control terminal from said input voltage comparator output terminal.

10. The high power factor circuit of claim 9 wherein

said input-voltage comparator circuit comprises a plurality of input-voltage comparators each of said input-voltage comparators having a first input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication a respective reference voltage, a second input-voltage comparator input terminal in electrical communication with said first input-voltage terminal, and an input-voltage comparator output terminal;

said gain amplifier circuit comprises a plurality of serially coupled gain amplifiers, each gain amplifier comprising a gain amplifier input terminal and a gain amplifier output terminal, a first one of said plurality of gain amplifiers having an input terminal in electrical communication with the input terminal of said gain amplifier circuit, a second one of said plurality of gain amplifiers having an output terminal in electrical communication with said output terminal of said gain amplifier circuit; and

said switch circuit comprises a plurality of switches, each of said switches comprising a switch input terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said gain amplifier input terminals, a switch output terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said gain amplifier output terminals and a switch control terminal in electrical communication with a respective one of said input-voltage comparator output terminals,

wherein each said switch connects said respective switch input terminal to said respective switch output terminal in response to a signal applied to said respective switch control terminal from said respective input voltage comparator output terminal.