Circuit and method for controlling a synchronous rectifier converter

• US 5,920,475 A
• Filed: 08/14/1996
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Boylan, Jeffrey L., Rozman, Allen Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US08/696,674
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 363/127, 363/89, 363/20, 363/21, 363/53, 363/71, 363/65, 363/97, 363/81, 363/84, 323/239
• US Class Current: 363/127
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/001 Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1563 without using an external clock H02M3/158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33584 Bidirectional converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33592 having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a synchronous freewheeling circuit at the secondary 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

For use in a power system having a power train, a rectifier having an input and an output and a method of controlling the rectifier. The rectifier comprises: (1) switching circuitry coupled between the input and the output, the switching circuitry adapted to operate in selected one of (a) a bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an unidirectional mode of operation to rectify substantially alternating current at the input to produce substantially direct current at the output; and (2) control circuitry coupled to a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing a characteristic of the power system and transitioning the switching circuitry between the bidirectional mode and the unidirectional mode as a function of the characteristic thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier.

Claims

1. A power supply, comprising:

switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; and

synchronous rectifier control circuitry capable of enabling and disabling said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and adapted to transition said switching circuitry from said active bi-directional mode to said inactive unidirectional mode of operation by gradually decreasing a conduction interval of said at least one synchronous rectifier device thereby reducing a disruption in an output of said power supply while said switching circuitry is transitioning from said active bi-directional mode to said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

2. The power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a power transformer having primary and secondary windings, said secondary winding being coupled to said switching circuitry; and

at least one power switch occasionally coupling said primary winding to a source of electrical power.

3. The power supply as recited in claim 2 further comprising a clamping circuit, coupled to said power transformer, adapted to limit a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

4. The power supply as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching circuitry comprises metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches.

5. The power supply as recited in claim 1 wherein said power supply is parallel-coupled to a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow.

6. The power supply as recited in claim 5 further comprising an active load-sharing circuit that effects load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

7. The power supply as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

8. The power supply as recited in claim 1 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

9. The power supply as recited in claim 1 further comprising detection circuitry capable of detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said detection circuitry allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.

10. A power supply, comprising:

switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; and

synchronous rectifier control circuitry capable of enabling and disabling said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and adapted to transition said switching circuitry from said inactive unidirectional mode to said active bi-directional mode of operation by gradually increasing a conduction interval of said at least one synchronous rectifier device thereby reducing a disruption in an output of said power supply while said switching circuitry is transitioning from said inactive unidirectional mode to said active bi-directional mode of operation.

11. The power supply as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a power transformer having primary and secondary windings, said secondary winding being coupled to said switching circuitry; and

at least one power switch occasionally coupling said primary winding to a source of electrical power.

12. The power supply as recited in claim 11 further comprising a clamping circuit, coupled to said power transformer, adapted to limit a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

13. The power supply as recited in claim 10 wherein said switching circuitry comprises metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches.

14. The power supply as recited in claim 10 wherein said power supply is parallel-coupled to a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow.

15. The power supply as recited in claim 14 further comprising an active load-sharing circuit that effects load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

16. The power supply as recited in claim 10 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

17. The power supply as recited in claim 10 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

18. The power supply as recited in claim 10 further comprising detection circuitry capable of detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said detection circuitry allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.

19. A method for controlling a synchronous rectifier circuit in a power supply, comprising:

providing switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; and

employing synchronous rectifier control circuitry to enable and disable said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and transition said switching circuitry between said active bi-directional mode to said inactive unidirectional mode of operation by gradually varying a conduction interval of said at least one synchronous rectifier device thereby reducing a disruption in an output of said power supply while said switching circuitry is transitioning between said active bi-directional mode and said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

providing a power transformer having primary and secondary windings;

occasionally coupling said primary winding to a source of electrical power with at least one power switch;

coupling said switching circuitry to said secondary winding; and

limiting a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

21. The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

parallel-coupling said power supply to a second power supply;

allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said control driven switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow; and

effecting load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

22. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said control driven switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

23. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

24. The method as recited in claim 19 further comprising detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.

25. A power supply, comprising:

switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current;

a timing circuit capable of developing a control signal as a function of a time period of said power supply; and

synchronous rectifier control circuitry capable of enabling and disabling said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and adapted to employ said control signal to disable said at least one synchronous rectifier device during a substantial portion of a start-up period of said power supply thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply.

26. The power supply as recited in claim 25 further comprising:

a power transformer having primary and secondary windings, said secondary winding being coupled to said switching circuitry; and

at least one power switch occasionally coupling said primary winding to a source of electrical power.

27. The power supply as recited in claim 26 further comprising a clamping circuit, coupled to said power transformer, adapted to limit a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

28. The power supply as recited in claim 25 wherein said switching circuitry comprises metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches.

29. The power supply as recited in claim 25 wherein said power supply is parallel-coupled to a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow.

30. The power supply as recited in claim 29 further comprising an active load-sharing circuit that effects load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

31. The power supply as recited in claim 25 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

32. The power supply as recited in claim 25 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

33. The power supply as recited in claim 25 further comprising detection circuitry capable of detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said detection circuitry allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.

34. A method for controlling a synchronous rectifier circuit in a power supply, comprising:

providing switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current;

developing a control signal with a timing circuit as a function of a time start-up period of said power supply; and

employing synchronous rectifier control circuitry to enable and disable said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and apply said control signal to disable said at least one synchronous rectifier device during a substantial portion of a start-up period of said power supply thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

providing a power transformer having primary and secondary windings;

occasionally coupling said primary winding to a source of electrical power with at least one power switch;

coupling said switching circuitry to said secondary winding; and

limiting a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

36. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

parallel-coupling said power supply to a second power supply;

allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said control driven switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow; and

effecting load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

37. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said control driven switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

38. The method as recited in claim 34 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

39. The method as recited in claim 34 further comprising detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.

40. A power supply, comprising:

at least one power switch that continuously and periodically conducts at a duty cycle (D) to couple an input of said power supply to a source of electrical power;

switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current;

a sensor capable of sensing said duty cycle (D) of said at least one power switch;

a level detector capable of comparing said duty cycle (D) with a threshold duty cycle and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; and

synchronous rectifier control circuitry, coupled to said level detector, capable of enabling and disabling said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and adapted to employ said control signal to disable said at least one synchronous rectifier device when said duty cycle (D) drops below said threshold duty cycle thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply.

41. The power supply as recited in claim 40, further comprising:

a power transformer having a primary winding coupled to said at least one power switch and a secondary winding coupled to said switching circuitry.

42. The power supply as recited in claim 41 further comprising a clamping circuit, coupled to said power transformer, adapted to limit a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

43. The power supply as recited in claim 40 wherein said switching circuitry comprises metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) switches.

44. The power supply as recited in claim 40 wherein said power supply is parallel-coupled to a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow.

45. The power supply as recited in claim 44 further comprising an active load-sharing circuit that effects load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

46. The power supply as recited in claim 40 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

47. The power supply as recited in claim 40 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

48. The power supply as recited in claim 40 further comprising detection circuitry capable of detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said detection circuitry allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.

49. A method for controlling a synchronous rectifier circuit in a power supply, comprising:

employing at least one power switch that continuously and periodically conducts at a duty cycle (D) to couple an input of said power supply to a source of electrical power;

providing switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bi-directional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current;

sensing said duty cycle (D) of said at least one power switch;

comparing said duty cycle (D) with a threshold duty cycle and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; and

employing synchronous rectifier control circuitry to enable and disable said switching circuitry as a function of a characteristic associated with said power supply and apply said control signal to disable said at least one synchronous rectifier device when said duty cycle (D) drops below said threshold duty cycle thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply.

50. The method as recited in claim 49, further comprising:

providing a power transformer having primary and secondary windings;

coupling said at least one power switch to said primary winding;

coupling said switching circuitry to said secondary winding; and

limiting a voltage across said power transformer during at least a portion of a non-conduction interval of said at least one power switch.

51. The method as recited in claim 49, further comprising:

parallel-coupling said power supply to a second power supply;

allowing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry to disable said control driven switching circuitry thereby preventing said second power supply from causing said substantial reverse power flow; and

effecting load sharing between said power supply and said second power supply.

52. The method as recited in claim 49 wherein said switching circuitry comprises discrete diodes to allow said control driven switching circuitry to operate in said inactive unidirectional mode of operation.

53. The method as recited in claim 49 wherein said switching circuitry comprises a plurality of synchronous rectifier devices, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable all of said plurality of synchronous rectifier devices.

54. The method as recited in claim 49 further comprising detecting parallel operation between said power supply and a second power supply, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to disable said switching circuitry only when said power supply is parallel-coupled to said second power supply.