Power factor correction circuit with soft switched boost converter

• US 5,923,152 A
• Filed: 02/20/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Network Power Energy Systems North America Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Guerrera, Nunzio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JARDIEU, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US08/803,464
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/24, 363/25, 363/26, 363/89, 363/127, 323/222, 323/224, 323/225
• US Class Current: 323/222
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/70 Regulating power factor; Regulating reactive current or power
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4208 Arrangements for improving power factor of AC input
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• 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 converter for a power factor correction circuit having application in a DC power supply for telecommunication equipment. The boost converter has a pair of independently controlled switches such as MOSFET in series with an inductor. A capacitor is in parallel with each switch and the lossless resonant discharge of the capacitors by energy stored in the inductor eliminates switch losses at turn on. As a result the converter may be operated at higher frequencies, thereby reducing the size and cost of magnetic components in the power supply.

Claims

1. A boost converter for a power factor correction circuit comprising:

input means for receiving a rectified AC signal;

output means;

a first controllable switch, a first inductor, and a second controllable switch connected in series across said input means;

a first controller for controlling the first switch to have a variable ON time;

a second controller for controlling the second switch to have a fixed ON time;

a first diode between said first switch and said output means;

a first capacitor in parallel with said first switch;

a second capacitor in parallel with said second switch;

a second diode across said first switch, said first inductor and said first diode; and

a third diode across said second switch and said first inductor.

2. A boost converter as defined in claim 1, said first and second controllable switches being MOSFET devices having a gate, a drain, and a source.

3. A boost converter as defined in claim 2 wherein the duty cycle of said first MOSFET is determined by the maximum on-time of said second MOSFET.

4. A boost converter as defined in claim 3 wherein the first MOSFET is pulse width modulated.

5. A boost converter as defined in claim 2 wherein a second inductor is connected in series with the input means and the first controllable switch.

6. A boost converter as defined in claim 5, further comprising:

a third controllable switch, a third inductor, and a fourth controllable switch connected in parallel with said first switch, said first inductor, and said second switch;

a third controller means for controlling the third switch to have a variable ON time;

a fourth controller means for controlling the fourth switch to have a fixed ON time;

a third capacitor in parallel with said third switch;

a fourth capacitor in parallel with said fourth switch;

a fourth diode across said third switch, said third inductor and said first diode; and

a fifth diode across said fourth switch and said third inductor.

7. A boost converter as defined in claim 6, said third and fourth switches being MOSFET devices.

8. A boost converter as defined in claim 7 wherein the duty cycle of said first MOSFET is determined by the maximum on-time of said second MOSFET, and the duty cycle of said third MOSFET is determined by the maximum on-time of said fourth MOSFET.

9. A boost converter as defined in claim 8 wherein the first and third MOSFETs are pulse width modulated.

10. A boost circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein said first inductor and said third inductor are magnetically coupled.

11. In a power supply for telecommunications equipment a power factor correction circuit having a boost converter, said boost converter comprising:

input means for receiving a rectified AC voltage;

output means;

first and second switch means serially connected to opposite ends of a first inductance means, the combination being connected across said input means;

a first capacitor shunting said second switch means;

a second capacitor shunting said second first switch means;

a first controller means for controlling the first switch means to have a variable ON time; and

a second controller means for controlling the second switch means to have a fixed ON time such that the respective on-time of each switch means is adjusted to generate a boosted DC output voltage.

12. A boost converter as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second switch means are MOSFET devices.

13. A boost converter as defined in claim 11, having a first clamping diode in parallel with said first switch means and inductance means and a second clamping diode in parallel with said second switch means and said inductance means.

14. A boost converter as defined in claim 13 wherein a second inductance means is connected in series with the input means and the first switch means.

15. A boost converter as defined in claim 14 wherein the DC voltage generated at the output is regulated by the on-time of said first switch means.

16. A boost converter as defined in claim 13 wherein the duty cycle of said first switch means is determined by the maximum on-time of said second switch means.

17. A method of generating a boosted DC voltage from a rectified AC voltage comprising the steps of:

supplying the rectified AC voltage to a boost converter having a boost inductor, a boost diode; and

first and second independently controllable switch means serially connected to opposing ends of an inductance means, each of the switch means having a shunt capacitor;

controlling the first switch means to have a variable ON time;

controlling the second switch means to have a fixed ON time;

and controlling the on and off relationship of each of said first and second switch means as a function of the frequency of the rectified AC input to minimize the reverse recovery current of said boost diode.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the on and off relationship of the controllable switch means is selected to reduce switching losses in respective switch means.