Flux equalized transformer circuit

• US 6,046,918 A
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DET International Holding Limited (Delta Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rompower, Inc. (Ascom Holding AG)
• Inventors: Jitaru, Ionel
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/310,626
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 323/251, 363/93, 363/91
• US Class Current: 363/93
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/06 Mounting, supporting or suspending transformers, reactors or choke coils not being of the signal type
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0203 Cooling of mounted components H05K1/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0206 by printed thermal vias
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/05 Insulated conductive substrates, e.g. insulated metal substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/066 Heatsink mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09054 Raised area or protrusion of metal substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09572 Solder filled plated through-hole in the final product
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09745 Recess in conductor, e.g. in pad or in metallic substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10166 Transistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0061 onto a metallic substrate, e.g. a heat sink heat sinks for electric apparatus H05K7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/209 Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure H05K7/20909 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49165 by forming conductive walled aperture in base

Abstract

A transformer group in which a multitude of transformers are used to supply energy to a single load. The transformers are connected in series; in order to assist in providing a "flux equalizing" affect, the invention includes a flux equalizer circuit. The flux equalizer circuit provides a series of flux windings. Each flux winding is associated with a single transformer. The windings are arranged in parallel. In this manner, a balancing of the output of the transformers is obtained; the power output from each transformer is "sensed" by its associated flux winding which is "shared" with the other transformers via their own associated flux winding. Power is process then through the secondary windings, rectifiers, and output filters to a common load.

Claims

1. A transformer group comprising:

a) a first transformer having,

1) a first primary winding, a first side of said first primary winding connected to a power source, and,

2) a first secondary winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced in said first secondary winding when electrical energy flows through said first primary winding;

b) a second transformer having,

1) a second primary winding, a first side of said second primary winding connected to a power source, and a second side of said second primary winding connected to a second side of said first primary winding,

2) a second secondary winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced in said second secondary winding when electrical energy flows through said second primary winding; and

,

c) a flux equalizer circuit, said flux equalizer circuit having,

1) a first flux winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through said first transformer, and,

2) a second flux winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through said second transformer, said second flux winding having a first end and a second end, the first end of said second flux winding electrically connected to the second end of said first flux winding, and the second end of said second load winding electrically connected to the first end of said first flux winding such that current induced within said flux equalizer circuit freely flows between said first flux winding and said second flux winding.

2. The transformer group according to claim 1,

a) further including a load;

and,

b) wherein said secondary winding of said first transformer communicates electrical energy to said load; and

,

c) wherein said secondary winding of said second transformer communicates electrical energy to said load.

3. The transformer group according to claim 2, further including:

a) a first rectifier circuit imposed between said secondary winding of said first transformer and said load; and

,

b) a second rectifier circuit imposed between said secondary winding of said second transformer and said load.

4. The transformer group according to claim 3, further including:

a) a first filter element imposed between said first rectifier and said load; and

,

b) a second filter element imposed between said second rectifier and said load.

5. A transformer flux equalizer circuit comprising:

a) a first flux winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy i-lows through a first transformer; and

,

b) a second flux winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through a second transformer, said second flux winding connected in a closed loop with said first flux winding.

6. The circuit according to claim 5,

a) wherein said first flux winding is positioned to have electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through a secondary winding of said first transformer;

and,

b) wherein said second flux winding is positioned to have electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through a secondary winding of said second transformer.

7. The transformer group according to claim 5,

a) wherein said first flux winding is positioned to have electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through a primary winding of said first transformer;

and,

b) wherein said second flux winding is positioned to have electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through a primary winding of said second transformer.

8. A system of N transformers, N greater than 2, comprising:

a) a power source;

b) N transformers, each of said N transformer having,

1) a primary winding, and,

2) a secondary winding positioned to have an electrical flow induced in said secondary winding when electrical energy flows through said primary winding;

wherein, said N transformers are connected in series with electrical energy from said power source flowing therethrough; and

,

c) a flux equalizer circuit having N flux windings, each of said N flux windings associated with one of said N transformers and positioned to have an electrical flow induced therein when electrical energy flows through an associated transformer, said flux equalizers connected in parallel.

9. The system of N transformers according to claim 8,

a) further including a load;

and,

b) wherein said secondary winding of each transformer communicates electrical energy to said load.

10. The system of N transformers according to claim 9, further including N rectifier circuits, each of said N rectifier circuits imposed between the secondary winding of one of said N transformers and said load.

11. The system, of N transformers according to claim 10, further including N filter elements, each of said N filter elements imposed between one of said N rectifier circuits and said load.