Direct current voltage converter with soft switching

• US 5,903,446 A
• Filed: 05/07/1998
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaia Converter
• Original Assignee: Gaia Converter
• Inventors: Ploquin, Didier, Huillet, Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): Hecker, Stuart N.
• Application Number:
  US09/029,753
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 363/17, 363/21, 363/25, 363/97
• US Class Current: 363/17
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• 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

The invention relates to a continuous voltage converter with soft switching, comprising a transformer (Np, Ns) whose primary is particularly of the type with a half-bridge mounting and is adapted to be connected to a source of input voltage (Ve) by means of two electronic switches (INT1, INT2) and whose secondary, of the mono-alternating type, is adapted to be connected to a load by means of an inductance in series (L2) and means (1 to 3, G1, G2) to control alternatingly the two switches, at fixed frequency, according to a regulation by modification of the pulse width as a function of the output voltage (Vo), so as to provide to said primary a switching at zero voltage, said converter being characterized in that said secondary comprises moreover a resonant circuit (L1, C1) so as to provide for said secondary a quasi-resonant switching at zero current.

Claims

1. Continuous voltage converter with soft switching, comprising a transformer (Np, Ns) whose primary is particularly of the type with a half-bridge mounting and is adapted to be connected to a source of input voltage (Ve) by means of two electronic switches (INT1, INT2) and of which the secondary, of mono-alternating type, is adapted to be connected to a load by means of a series inductance (L2) and means (1 to 3, G1, G2) to control alternatingly the two switches, at fixed frequency, according to a regulation by modulation of pulse width as a function of the outlet voltage (Vo), thereby to provide for said primary a commutation at zero voltage, said converter being characterized in that said secondary comprises moreover a resonant circuit (L1, C1) without free-wheel diode so as to carry out in said secondary a quasi-resonant switching at zero current.

2. Converter according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary circuit comprises, in addition to a rectifying-filtering circuit (L2, C2) of conventional type, a resonant circuit comprising a condenser (C1) and an inductance (L1) of low value, said resonant circuit (L1, C1) being adapted to create in the secondary winding (Ns) of said transformer, at each opening/closing cycle of the switches (INT1, INT2), a sinusoidal shaped current (Is) which is zero or passes through a zero value in intervals of time (tm) during which the two switches (INT1, INT2) are both open, such that the current (Ip) of the primary winding (Np) will be in the direction which promotes soft switching, without loss, of that of the two switches which close.

3. Converter according to claim 2, characterized in that said alternating control means of the two switches (INT1, INT2) deliver square signals (Vc, Vd) of identical and constant frequencies, the duration (t1) of a square wave of one (Vd) determining the duration of closure of one of the switches, this latter duration being controlled as a function of the difference between the output voltage (Vo) and a reference voltage, whilst the second signal (Vc) controls the opening of the second switch before the closing of the first switch and the closing of said second switch after the opening of the first switch, the intervals (tm) between the opening of one of the switches and the closing of the other switch being equal and constant.

4. Converter according to one of claim 1, characterized in that said resonant circuit (L1, C1) of the secondary is dimensioned with a resonance frequency sufficient low to obtain a primary current of an appropriate sign permitting having switching at zero voltage of each switch (INT1, INT2) upon the opening of the other.