High efficiency resonant switching converters

• US 5,694,304 A
• Filed: 02/03/1995
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson Raynet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ericsson Raynet Corporation
• Inventors: Shteynberg, Anatoly, Telefus, Mark, Pellerin, Sharon
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, RAJNIKANT B
• Application Number:
  US08/383,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 363/20, 363/21, 363/131, 363/97, 363/49
• US Class Current: 363/21.03
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/38 Means for preventing simultaneous conduction of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/01 Resonant DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• 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

Resonant DC to DC power converter topologies include a PWM-controlled flyback converter having a single transformer and a primary side resonant subcircuit that is optimally controlled to minimize reverse recovery losses. A second transformer may be added wherein the primary windings are connected in series, the first transformer having substantially greater inductance than the second transformer to more efficiently transfer energy over a wide range of output load conditions. A combined forward-flyback resonant converter utilizing a load-side buck loop for increased power delivery performance and start-up circuitry for initial power connection of the converter to a voltage source utilizing a hysteresis protection circuit are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A DC to DC flyback converter for supplying power derived from an input voltage source to one or more output terminals, comprising:

a first transformer which isolates the one or more output terminals from the input voltage source, said transformer having a primary winding;

a first semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said primary winding with the input voltage source;

a resonant capacitor;

a second semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said resonant capacitor with said primary winding; and

control circuitry having means for alternately turning said first switch ON and OFF according to a first selected duty cycle and means for alternately turning said second switch ON and OFF according to a second selected duty cycle, wherein said second duty cycle is selected such that said second switch is turned ON only so long as required to discharge said resonant capacitor.

2. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 1, wherein said means for turning said first switch ON and OFF comprise a first voltage control signal and said means for turning said second switch ON and OFF comprise a second voltage control signal.

3. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 2, further comprising means for deriving said second voltage control signal from said first voltage control signal.

4. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 3, wherein said means for deriving said second voltage control signal from said first voltage control signal comprise delay circuitry.

5. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 1, further comprising a second transformer, said second transformer having a primary winding provided in series with said first transformer primary winding.

6. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 5, said second transformer having substantially greater inductance than said first transformer.

7. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 5, said first and second transformers each having a secondary winding, said respective secondary windings provided in parallel.

8. A DC to DC flyback converter for supplying power derived from an input voltage source to one or more output terminals, comprising:

a transformer which isolates the one or more output terminals from the input voltage source, said transformer having a primary winding;

a first semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said primary winding with the input voltage source;

a resonant capacitor;

a second semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said resonant capacitor with said primary winding; and

control circuitry having means for alternately turning said first switch ON for a period of time T_ON and OFF for a period of time T_OFF, respectively, and means for alternately turning said second switch ON for a period of time T_D2 and OFF for a period of time T_D3, respectively, wherein each second switch ON time period T_D2 commences after a time delay T_D1 following each instance said first switch is turned ON, and wherein said time period T_D2 is limited to the time required to discharge said resonant capacitor.

9. A method for controlling a DC to DC flyback converter, said converter comprising a transformer having a primary winding, a first semiconductor switch operated by a first voltage control signal according to a first duty cycle, said first switch, when ON, electrically coupling said primary winding with an input voltage, a resonant capacitor, and a second semiconductor switch operated by a second voltage control signal according to a second duty cycle, said second switch, when ON, electrically coupling said primary winding with said resonant capacitor, comprising the steps of:

selecting said first duty cycle so that said first switch is alternately turned ON for a period of time T_ON and OFF for a period of time T_OFF, respectively; and

selecting said second duty cycle so that said second switch is alternately turned ON for a period of time T_D2 and OFF for a period of time T_D3, respectively, wherein each second switch ON time period T_D2 commences after a time delay T_D1 following each instance said first switch is turned ON, and wherein said time period T_D2 is limited to the time required to discharge said resonant capacitor.

10. The method for controlling a DC to DC flyback converter of claim 9, comprising the further step of:

deriving said second voltage control signal from said first voltage control signal.

11. A DC to DC flyback converter for supplying power derived from an input voltage source to one or more output terminals, comprising:

a first transformer having a primary winding; and

a second transformer having a primary winding, said first transformer primary winding provided in series with said second transformer primary winding, said first transformer having substantially greater inductance than said second transformer.

12. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 11, said first and second transformers each having a secondary winding, said first transformer secondary winding provided in parallel with said second transformer secondary winding.

13. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 11, further comprising:

a first semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said primary windings with the input voltage source;

a resonant capacitor;

a second semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said resonant capacitor with said primary windings; and

control circuitry having means for alternately turning said first switch ON and OFF according to a first selected duty cycle and means for alternately turning said second switch ON and OFF according to a second selected duty cycle, wherein said second duty cycle is selected such that said second switch is turned ON only so long as required to discharge said resonant capacitor.

14. A DC to DC flyback converter for supplying power derived from an input voltage source to one or more output voltage terminals over a wide range of output load levels, comprising:

magnetic energy transfer means for isolating the one or more output voltage terminals from the input voltage source, said magnetic energy transfer means having an effective variable inductance.

15. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 14, wherein the inductance of said magnetic energy transfer system is inversely related to the output load level.

16. The DC to DC flyback converter of claim 14, said magnetic energy transfer means comprising a pair of transformers, one of the transformers having substantially greater inductance than the other.

17. A DC to DC power converter for supplying power derived from an input voltage source to an output voltage terminal, comprising:

a transformer which isolates the output voltage terminal from the input voltage source, said transformer having a primary winding, a flyback-secondary winding and a forward-secondary winding, respectively;

a load-side inductor electrically coupled in series with said forward-secondary winding; and

a load-side storage capacitor electrically coupled with said flyback-secondary winding, said inductor and capacitor connected in parallel across said output voltage terminal.

18. The DC to DC power converter of claim 17, further comprising:

a first semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said primary winding with the input voltage source, said transformer both storing energy and transferring energy through said forward-secondary winding, respectively.

19. The DC to DC power converter of claim 18, further comprising:

a resonant capacitor;

a second semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said resonant capacitor with said primary winding; and

control circuitry having means for alternately turning said first switch ON and OFF according to a first selected duty cycle and means for alternately turning said second switch ON and OFF according to a second selected duty cycle.

20. Start-up circuitry for connecting a voltage supply for the control circuitry of a power converter to a voltage source, comprising:

means including a first semiconductor switch to connect the voltage supply to the voltage source upon initial start-up of the power converter;

means including a second semiconductor switch and a comparator to maintain said connection until the voltage supply is charged to a first voltage level and then discontinuing said connection until the voltage of said voltage supply drops below a second voltage level, said first voltage level being greater than said second voltage level, wherein said second switch is controlled by an output signal from said comparator and said first switch is controlled by said second switch.

21. The start-up circuitry of claim 20, wherein said means to connect comprise a first semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples the voltage supply to the voltage source, and said means to maintain said connection comprise a second semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples an activating gate of said first semiconductor switch to ground, said second semiconductor switch being activated by an output signal of a voltage comparator.

22. The start-up circuitry of claim 21, said voltage comparator comparing an input voltage to a reference voltage, said input voltage determined in part by the voltage level of the voltage supply.

23. The start-up circuitry of claim 20, said first voltage level selected at a level sufficient operating voltage to the control circuitry such that said control circuitry can commence operation and thereafter be powered by an auxiliary converter output terminal, said second voltage level selected to allow for typical start-up converter output voltage fluctuations without causing said connection to be reestablished.

24. A DC to DC flyback converter for supplying power to one or more output terminals from an input voltage source, comprising:

a first transformer which isolates the one or more output terminals from the input voltage source, said transformer having a primary winding;

a first semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said primary winding with the input voltage source;

a resonant capacitor;

a second semiconductor switch that, when ON, electrically couples said resonant capacitor with said primary winding;

control circuitry having means for alternately turning said first switch ON and OFF according to a first selected duty cycle and means for alternately turning said second switch ON and OFF according to a second selected duty cycle, wherein said second duty cycle is selected such that said second switch is turned ON only so long as required to discharge said resonant capacitor; and

start-up circuitry having means including a first semiconductor switch to connect a voltage supply for said control circuitry to the input voltage, said connection being maintained from start-up by means including a second semiconductor switch and a comparator until said voltage supply is charged by the input voltage to a first selected voltage level and then discontinued until said voltage supply drops below a second selected voltage level, wherein said second switch is controlled by an output signal from said comparator and said first switch is controlled by said second switch.