Circuit and method for controlling a synchronous rectifier converter
First Claim
1. A power supply, comprising:
- control driven 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 control driven switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current;
a sensor capable of sensing an output level of said power supply;
a level detector capable of comparing said output level with a threshold level and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; and
synchronous rectifier control circuitry, coupled to said level detector, adapted to energize said control driven switching circuitry and employ said control signal to disable said control driven switching circuitry as a function of said output level to thereby prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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) an active bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an inactive 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 between the rectifier output and a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing an output current level of the rectifier and transitioning the switching circuitry between the active bidirectional mode and the inactive unidirectional mode as a function of the output current level thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier. The rectifier is particularly useful in power systems having a plurality of rectifiers operating in parallel to prevent one rectifier from driving the other.
151 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A power supply, comprising:
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control driven 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 control driven switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; a sensor capable of sensing an output level of said power supply; a level detector capable of comparing said output level with a threshold level and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; and synchronous rectifier control circuitry, coupled to said level detector, adapted to energize said control driven switching circuitry and employ said control signal to disable said control driven switching circuitry as a function of said output level to thereby prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling a synchronousrectifiercircuit in a power supply, comprising:
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providing control driven 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 control driven switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; sensing an output level of said power supply; comparing said output level with a threshold level and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; and coupling synchronous rectifier control circuitry to said level detector, said control circuit being adapted to energize said control driven switching circuitry and employ said control signal to disable said control driven switching circuitry as a function of said output level to thereby prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A power supply, comprising:
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a power transformer having primary and secondary windings; at least one power switch occasionally coupling said primary winding to a source of electrical power; self-synchronized switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device coupled to said secondary winding and adapted to operate in a selected one of (a) an active bidirectional mode of operation when enabled and (b) an inactive unidirectional mode of operation when disabled, said self-synchronized switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; a sensor capable of sensing an output level of said power supply; a level detector capable of comparing said output level with a threshold level and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; synchronous rectifier control circuitry coupled to said power transformer and adapted to energize said self-synchronized switching circuitry therefrom; and an enabling voltage source adapted to energize said synchronous rectifier control circuitry, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry capable of employing said control signal to disable said self-synchronized switching circuitry as a function of said output level to thereby prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for controlling a synchronous rectifier circuit in a power supply, comprising:
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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 self-synchronized switching circuitry including at least one synchronous rectifier device to said secondary winding, said self-synchronized switching circuitry 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 self-synchronized switching circuitry thereby rectifying substantially alternating current to produce substantially direct current; sensing an output level of said power supply; comparing said output level with a threshold level and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; coupling synchronous rectifier control circuitry to said power transformer and energizing said self-synchronized switching circuitry therefrom; and energizing said synchronous rectifier control circuitry with an enabling voltage source, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry capable of employing said control signal to disable said self-synchronized switching circuitry as a function of said output level to thereby prevent substantial reverse power flow through said power supply. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A power system having first and second power supplies, each of said first and second power supplies, comprising;
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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 in a normal periodic mode of operation; synchronous rectifier control circuitry coupled to said switching and adapted to energize and de-energize said switching circuitry; a sensor capable of sensing an output level thereof; a level detector capable of comparing said output level with a threshold level and developing a control signal in accordance therewith; an active load sharing circuit capable of effecting load sharing between said first and second power supplies within a specified operating range, said synchronous rectifier control circuitry adapted to employ said control signal to disable said switching circuitry as a function of said output level to thereby prevent substantial reverse power flow through one of said first and second power supplies when said active load sharing circuit is operating outside of said specified operating range. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification