Circuit and method for conserving energy in a boost regulator circuit

• US 5,808,884 A
• Filed: 07/16/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Teggatz, Ross E., Teggatz, Rex M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US08/682,946
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/282, 323/283, 323/351, 363/17, 363/98, 363/132
• US Class Current: 363/98
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 44/00 Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00
• 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 boost regulator circuit includes a rechargeable power supply Vcc, an energy storage component 22 coupled to the rechargeable power supply, a load C_L, and a bi-directional drive means (S1-S6, 20 and 27) for delivering energy from the energy storage component 22 to the load C_L. The bi-directional drive means allows energy transferred to the load to be recovered back to the rechargeable power supply Vcc before switching the load C_L in an opposite direction, thereby effectuating an efficient management of energy and extending the life of the rechargeable power supply Vcc.

Claims

1. A boost regulator circuit, comprising:

an H-bridge circuit;

a load connected to the H-bridge circuit capable of being driven bi-directionally;

a diode having an anode and a cathode, wherein the cathode is connected to the H-bridge circuit;

a first electrical switch connected in parallel with the diode;

an inductive element connected between the anode of the diode and a power supply node;

a second electrical switch connected between the anode of the diode and a circuit ground potential, the second electrical switch is activated by a pulse signal

a control circuit connected to the first and second electrical switches and the H-bridge circuit, wherein the control circuit first activates the second electrical switch and controls the H-bridge circuit to drive the load in a first polarity, and then deactivates the second electrical switch, and activates the first electrical switch before switching the H-bridge circuit to drive the load in an opposite polarity thereby transferring energy stored in the load through the first electrical switch to the power supply node.

2. A method of conserving energy in a boost regulator circuit, comprising the steps of:

driving a load in a first polarity, thereby causing a voltage potential to develop across the load and energy to be stored within the load;

enabling a discharge path between the load and a power supply node;

transferring the energy stored in the load to the power supply node;

disabling the discharge path; and

driving the load in a second polarity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of enabling a discharge path between the load and a power supply node comprises activating a switch between the load and the power supply node creating an effective short circuit between the load and the power supply node, thereby allowing energy stored in the load to easily transfer to the power supply node, minimizing the resulting power drain on the power supply node.

4. A method of conserving energy in a boost regulator circuit, comprising the steps of:

incrementally driving a load in a first polarity, thereby causing a voltage potential to be incrementally boosted across the load until the voltage potential reaches a predetermined level;

enabling a discharge path between the load and a power supply node after the voltage potential reaches a predetermined level;

transferring the energy stored in the load to the power supply node;

disabling the discharge path; and

driving the load in a second polarity.