Power supply with re-configurable outputs for different output voltages and method of operation thereof

• US 5,949,671 A
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Victor K., Liu, Rui
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/048,246
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 363/67, 363/68, 363/69, 363/89, 363/142, 363/143
• US Class Current: 363/142
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control

Abstract

For use with a DC power supply having first and second output rectifying circuits couplable in alternative configurations to provide dual voltages at an output of the DC power supply, an adaptive voltage controller and a method of adaptively controlling the output voltage. In one embodiment, the adaptive voltage controller includes: (1) a configuration determination circuit, coupled to the output, that generates a configuration signal that is a function of a configuration of the first and second output rectifying circuits, (2) a voltage feedback circuit, coupled to the configuration determination circuit, that develops a voltage feedback signal based on the configuration signal and (3) a voltage control circuit, coupled to the voltage feedback circuit, that receives the voltage feedback signal and controls an output voltage of the DC power supply as a function thereof.

Claims

1. For use with a DC power supply having first and second output rectifying circuits couplable in alternative configurations to provide dual voltages at an output of said DC power supply, an adaptive voltage controller, comprising:

a configuration determination circuit, coupled to said output, that generates a configuration signal that is a function of a configuration of said first and second output rectifying circuits;

a voltage feedback circuit, coupled to said configuration determination circuit, that develops a voltage feedback signal based on said configuration signal; and

a voltage control circuit, coupled to said voltage feedback circuit, that receives said voltage feedback signal and controls an output voltage of said DC power supply as a function thereof.

2. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second output rectifying circuits are couplable in alternative parallel and series configurations to provide said dual voltages.

3. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said configuration determination circuit senses an output voltage of an output terminal of one of said first and second output rectifying circuits.

4. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said configuration signal assumes a discrete value as a function of said configuration.

5. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said voltage feedback circuit includes a resistor ladder having a resistance that is a function of said configuration signal.

6. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein said voltage control circuit comprises a comparison circuit that compares said voltage feedback signal to said output voltage to control said output voltage.

7. The controller as recited in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second output rectifying circuits includes an output diode, said controller further comprising a diode bypass circuit, coupled to said output diode, that receives said configuration signal from said configuration determination circuit and bypasses said output diode as a function thereof.

8. A method of controlling a DC power supply having first and second output rectifying circuits couplable in alternative configurations to provide dual voltages at an output of said DC power supply, comprising the steps of:

generating a configuration signal that is a function of a configuration of said first and second output rectifying circuits;

developing a voltage feedback signal based on said configuration signal; and

controlling an output voltage of said DC power supply as a function thereof.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said first and second output rectifying circuits are couplable in alternative parallel and series configurations to provide said dual voltages.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of generating comprises the step of sensing an output voltage of an output terminal of one of said first and second output rectifying circuits.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said configuration signal assumes a discrete value as a function of said configuration.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of developing comprises the step of modifying a resistance of a resistor ladder.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of controlling comprises the step of comparing said voltage feedback signal to said output voltage to control said output voltage.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein one of said first and second output rectifying circuits includes an output diode, said method further comprising the step of bypassing said output diode as a function of said configuration signal.

15. A DC power supply, comprising:

first and second output rectifying circuits, outputs of said first and second output rectifying circuits being alternatively couplable in a parallel configuration to provide power at a lower voltage and couplable in a series configuration to provide power at a higher voltage; and

a voltage controller for controlling said DC power supply at a selected one of said lower and higher voltages, including;

a configuration determination circuit, coupled to said output, that senses an output voltage of an output terminal of one of said first and second output rectifying circuits and generates a configuration signal that is a function of a configuration of said first and second output rectifying circuits,

a voltage feedback circuit, coupled to said configuration determination circuit, that develops a voltage feedback signal based on said configuration signal, and

a voltage control circuit, coupled to said voltage feedback circuit, that receives said voltage feedback signal and controls said output voltage as a function thereof.

16. The power supply as recited in claim 15 further comprising separate first and second transformers coupled to said first and second output rectifying circuits, respectively, said first and second transformers evenly dividing an output current of said DC power supply between said first and second output rectifying circuits.

17. The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said configuration signal assumes a discrete value as a function of said configuration.

18. The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said voltage feedback circuit includes a resistor ladder having a resistance that is a function of said configuration signal.

19. The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein said voltage control circuit comprises a comparison circuit that compares said voltage feedback signal to said output voltage to control said output voltage.

20. The power supply as recited in claim 15 wherein one of said first and second output rectifying circuits includes an output diode, said controller further comprising a diode bypass circuit, coupled to said output diode, that receives said configuration signal from said configuration determination circuit and bypasses said output diode as a function thereof.