Snubber for zero current switched networks

• US 5,815,386 A
• Filed: 06/19/1997
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Factor One, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Factor One, Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Jay M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US08/878,928
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/225, 323/232, 323/282, 323/351, 363/50, 363/55, 363/56
• US Class Current: 363/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/342 Active non-dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• 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

An AC to DC converter employing a resonant circuit and an auxiliary controllable switch such that the main controllable switch is turned off at zero current. A coupled saturable inductor is connected to the resonant circuit and the associated switching diode so that the turnoff stress of the switching diode is greatly reduced.

Claims

1. A snubber for a zero-current switched power converter, the converter including a main switch, an auxiliary controllable switch, a resonant network between said main switch and said auxiliary controllable switch to effect zero-current switching and a switching diode across the resonant network, wherein the snubber comprises a coupled saturable inductor having a snubber winding and a reset winding;

the snubber winding of said coupled saturable inductor being connected in series with the switching diode;

the reset winding of said coupled saturable inductor being connected in series with the resonant network of said converter; and

wherein said snubber and reset windings are connected such that current through said resonant network and said reset winding prior to the turnoff of the main controllable switch causes said coupled saturable inductor to saturate, and subsequent current flow through said switching diode is unopposed by said snubber winding.

2. The snubber according to claim 1 further comprising an additional saturable inductor connected in series with the resonant network.

3. The snubber according to claim 1 further comprising:

a reverse current blocking diode connected in series with said reset winding and said auxiliary controllable switch;

an anti-parallel diode connected in parallel with said blocking diode, said reset winding and said auxiliary controllable switch; and

a clamp diode connected to the anti-parallel diode in such a way as to limit the voltage across said anti-parallel diode.

4. A zero-current transition switching converter comprising:

a main switch;

a series resonant network consisting of a capacitor, an inductor, and an auxiliary switch connected in series, said series resonant network being connected in parallel with said main switch;

a clamp diode connected to the auxiliary switch in such a way as to limit the voltage across said auxiliary switch;

means for controlling the auxiliary switch and the main switch such that the main switch turns off when zero current is being conducted by the main switch;

an output capacitor;

an output load connected across said output capacitor and in series with said clamp diode; and

a switch diode connected to said main switch and said output load in such a way as to allow current to flow to said output capacitor and said output load when the main switch is turned off;

wherein the improvement comprises a coupled saturable inductor having snubber and reset windings;

the snubber winding of said coupled saturable inductor being connected in series with said switch diode;

the reset winding of said coupled saturable inductor being connected in series with said series resonant network;

said snubber and reset windings being connected such that current through said series resonant network and said reset winding prior to the turnoff of the main switch causes said coupled saturable inductor to saturate and subsequent current flow through said switch diode is unopposed by said snubber winding.

5. The switching converter according to claim 4 wherein the improvement further comprises an additional saturable inductor in series with said series resonant network.

6. The switching converter according to claim 4 wherein the improvement further comprises:

a reverse current blocking diode in series with the auxiliary switch and the reset winding of said coupled saturable inductor; and

an anti-parallel diode in parallel with the auxiliary switch, the reverse blocking diode and the reset winding of the coupled saturable inductor.