High frequency switch-mode DC powered computer system

• US 6,307,757 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integrated Device Technology Incorporated (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Porter, Robert M., Gurov, Gennady G., Ledenev, Anatoli V.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US09/534,641
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.01, 363/34, 363/37, 363/20, 307/64, 307/66, 307/82, 323/205, 323/207
• US Class Current: 363/21.01
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 2250/0061 for working underwater
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 7/26 Placing by using several means simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/002 Intermediate AC, e.g. DC supply with intermediated AC distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a constant voltage, high frequency sinusoidal output across a varying load, using either a single or multiple switch topology operating at constant frequency while maintaining high efficiency over the entire load range. This embodiment is especially suited to applications which require the sinusoidal voltage be held very close to a desired value in the presence of rapid changes in the conductance of the load, even in the sub-microsecond time domain as is common in computer applications and the like and in powering electronics equipment, especially a distributed system and especially a system wherein low voltage at high current is required. Embodiments and sub elements provide energy storage for low voltage, high current electronic loads, an ability to supply current with rapid time variation, connection of the energy storage element to the electronic load through specially configured conductors designed to minimize the created magnetic field around said conductors, providing extremely low inductance connections, permitting larger energy storage elements to be utilized, permitting energy storage to be located relatively remotely from the powered electronic load, and a steady voltage from a transformer isolated, high frequency ac to dc converter under varying load without the necessity for feedback control, among other aspects. The addition of capacitors which interact with the leakage inductance of the transformer to produce a natural regulation condition is used and the relationship between the value of the leakage inductance of the transformer and that of the added capacitances is different from the condition of resonance at the operating frequency.

Claims

1. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;

b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;

c. a switch-mode inverter element having at least one switch responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output at at least an inherent capacitance coordinated frequency having an inverter period;

d. a frequency driver which controls said switch-mode inverter element to establish a frequency at at least said inherent capacitance-coordinated frequency;

e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;

f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said switch-mode inverter element;

g. at least one low voltage, high current computer component capable of a rapid energy demand within said inverter period and requiring a component DC supply voltage; and

h. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system and located electrically near said low voltage, high current computer component comprising;

1) at least one voltage regulation module transformer element which establishes an alternating low voltage computer component output; and

2) at least one voltage regulation module rectifier element which converts said alternating low voltage computer component output to said a component DC supply voltage and to which said low voltage, high current computer component is responsive.

2. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said frequency driver comprises a high frequency driver.

3. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 2 wherein said high frequency driver comprises a frequency driver operating at a frequency selected from a group consisting of:

a frequency greater than at least about 300 kHz, a frequency greater than at least about 500 kHz, a frequency greater than at least about 1 MHz, a frequency greater than at least about 3 MHz, a frequency greater than at least about 10 MHz, and a frequency greater than at least about 30 MHz.

4. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 3 wherein said inherent capacitance-coordinated frequency is coordinated with an inherent capacitance of said switch, said supply transformer element, and said power distribution system.

5. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 3 switch-mode inverter element has an inverter switch having output capacitance and wherein said inherent capacitance-coordinated frequency is coordinated with said output capacitance of said switch.

6. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 3 switch-mode inverter element has a mosfet transistor having output capacitance and wherein said inherent capacitance-coordinated frequency is coordinated with said output capacitance of said mosfet transistor.

7. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 2 wherein said high frequency driver comprises a frequency driver operating at a frequency which is high enough to permit elimination of a bulk capacitor.

8. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 3 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component comprises at least one microprocessor affected by bypass capacitors.

9. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 8 wherein said bypass capacitors supply substantially all of said rapid energy demand of said computer component within said inverter period.

10. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 8 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component further comprises:

at least one memory element;

a logic management system, at least one input/output element.

11. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 10 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component further comprises at least a second low voltage, high current computer component capable of a rapid energy demand within said inverter period and requiring a second component DC supply voltage and further comprising at least a second electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system and located electrically near said second low voltage, high current computer component and comprising;

1) at least a second voltage regulation module transformer element which establishes a second alternating low voltage computer component output; and

2) at least a second voltage regulation module rectifier element which converts said second alternating low voltage computer component output to said a second component DC supply voltage and to which said second low voltage, high current computer component is responsive.

12. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said power distribution system comprises an alternating signal power distribution system which provides alternating power at locations remote from said switch-mode inverter element.

13. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 1 wherein said power distribution system comprises a substantially sinusoidal alternating signal power distribution system which provides substantially sinusoidal alternating power at locations remote from said switch-mode inverter element.

14. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 8 wherein said computer system comprises a personal computer.

15. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 14 wherein said personal computer comprises a display a keyboard, and an output element.

16. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 3 wherein said low voltage, high current computer component comprises a component operating at a nominal DC voltage selected from a group consisting of:

less than about 2 volts, less than about 1.8 volts, less than about 1.5 volts, less than about 1.3 volts, less than about 1 volt, and less than about 0.4 volts.

17. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 16 wherein said low voltage, high current computer component comprises a component operating at a maximum current selected from a group consisting of:

more than about 15 amperes, more than about 20 amperes, more than about 50 amperes, and more than about 100 amperes.

18. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 17 and further comprising a fast acting response network to which said switch-mode inverter element is responsive and which is responsive to said computer components.

19. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 18 wherein said fast acting response network comprises a network having an effective capacitance selected from a group consisting of:

less than about 0.3 millifarads, less than about 0.5 millifarads, less than about 1 millifarads, less than about 3 millifarads, less than about 10 millifarads.

20. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

a. constant output voltage circuitry which is responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch;

b. constant trajectory circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch;

c. energy maintenance circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch; and

d. stabilizing circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch.

21. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 20 wherein said frequency driver has a drive amplitude, and further comprising direct drive bias alteration circuitry to which said frequency driver is responsive and which is responsive to said drive amplitude.

22. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system comprising the steps of:

a. supplying an AC utility power having a line frequency;

b. rectifying said AC utility power to a DC signal;

c. inverting said DC signal utilizing at least one switch to establish an alternating power output at at least an inherent capacitance-coordinated frequency having an inverter period;

d. driving said switch to establish a frequency at at least said inherent capacitance-coordinated frequency;

e. transforming said alternating power output to establish at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;

f. distributing said distribution voltage to a location near at least one low voltage, high current computer component capable of a rapid energy demand within said inverter period at a location electrically remote from said switch;

g. remotely transforning said distribution voltage at a location electrically near at least one low voltage, high current computer component to establish an alternating low voltage computer component output;

h. remotely rectifying said alternating low voltage computer component output at a location electrically near at least one low voltage, high current computer component to establish a component DC supply voltage; and

i. powering said low voltage, high current computer component responsive to said component DC supply voltage.

23. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 22 wherein said computer component has at least one microprocessor affected by bypass capacitors and further comprising the step of supplying substantially all of said rapid energy demand of said computer component within said inverter period by said bypass capacitors.

24. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 22 wherein said step of distributing said distribution voltage to a location near at least one low voltage, high current computer component comprises the step of distributing an AC signal to a location near at least one low voltage, high current computer component.

25. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 24 wherein said step of distributing an AC signal to a location near at least one low voltage, high current computer component comprises the step of distributing a substantially sinusoidal signal to a location near at least one low voltage, high current computer component.

26. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 22 wherein said low voltage, high current computer component has a varying load and further comprising the step of responding to variations in said varying load by a fast acting response network.

27. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 22 wherein said switch creates a trajectory after a conduction period, and further comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a constant output voltage through circuitry which is responsive to said alternating power output of said switch;

b. establishing a constant trajectory through circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said switch;

c. maintaining component supply energy through circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said switch; and

d. stabilizing said alternating power output through circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said switch.

28. A switch-generated DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;

b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a substantially constant DC signal;

c. a switch-mode inverter element having at least one switch responsive to said DC signal and which establishes at least one alternating power output;

d. a driver which controls said switch-mode inverter element;

e. a substantially sinusoidal alternating signal power distribution system which provides substantially sinusoidal alternating power at locations remote from said switch-mode inverter element; and

f. at least one voltage regulation module rectifier element responsive to said substantially sinusoidal alternating signal power distribution system and located near said computer component and which converts said substantially sinusoidal alternating power to a substantially constant DC output and to which at least one computer component is responsive.

29. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 28 wherein said at least one computer component comprises at least one low voltage, high current computer component, and wherein said substantially sinusoidal alternating signal power distribution system which provides substantially sinusoidal alternating power at locations remote from said switch-mode inverter element comprises a distribution system operating at alternating voltages selected from a group consisting of:

greater than about 5 volts, greater than about 10 volts, greater than about 15 volts, greater than about 20 volts, greater than about 30 volts, and greater than about 50 volts.

30. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 29 and further comprising at least one voltage regulation module transformer element which establishes an alternating low voltage computer component output.

31. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 30 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component further comprises:

at least one memory element;

a logic management system, at least one input/output element.

32. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 31 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component comprises at least one microprocessor affected by bypass capacitors.

33. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 32 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component is capable of a rapid energy demand within an inverter period and wherein said bypass capacitors supply substantially all of said rapid energy demand of said computer component within said inverter period.

34. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 31 wherein said at least one low voltage, high current computer component further comprises at least a second low voltage, high current computer component capable of a rapid energy demand within said inverter period and requiring a second component DC supply voltage and further comprising at least a second voltage regulation module responsive to said substantially sinusoidal alternating signal power distribution system and located electrically near said second low voltage, high current computer component and comprising;

1) at least a second voltage regulation module transformer element which establishes a second alternating low voltage computer component output; and

2) at least a second voltage regulation module rectifier element which converts said second alternating low voltage computer component output to said a second component DC supply voltage and to which said second low voltage, high current computer component is responsive.

35. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 31 wherein said computer system comprises a personal computer.

36. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 35 wherein said personal computer comprises a display a keyboard, and an output element.

37. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 28 and further comprising a response network comprising:

a. constant output voltage circuitry which is responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch;

b. constant trajectory circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch;

c. energy maintenance circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch; and

d. stabilizing circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said at least one switch.

38. A switch-mode generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 37 wherein said response network comprises a network having an effective capacitance selected from a group consisting of:

less than about 0.3 millifarads, less than about 0.5 millifarads, less than about 1 millifarads, less than about 3 millifarads, less than about 10 millifarads.

39. A switch-generated DC powered computer system as described in claim 37 wherein said driver has a drive amplitude, and further comprising direct drive bias alteration circuitry to which said driver is responsive and which is responsive to said drive amplitude.

40. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system comprising the steps of:

a. supplying an AC utility power having a line frequency;

b. rectifying said AC utility power to a DC signal;

c. inverting said DC signal utilizing at least one switch to establish an alternating power output;

d. driving said switch to establish a frequency;

e. distributing a substantially sinusoidal signal to a location electrically remote from said switch;

f. remotely rectifying said substantially sinusoidal signal at a location electrically near at least one computer component to establish a component DC supply voltage; and

g. powering said computer component responsive to said component DC supply voltage.

41. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 40 wherein said step of inverting said DC signal utilizing at least one switch to establish an alternating power output has an inverter period, wherein said computer component is capable of a rapid energy demand within said inverter period, wherein said computer component has at least one microprocessor affected by bypass capacitors, and further comprising the step of supplying substantially all of said rapid energy demand of said computer component within said inverter period by said bypass capacitors.

42. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 40 wherein said switch creates a trajectory after a conduction period, and further comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a constant output voltage through circuitry which is responsive to said alternating power output of said switch;

b. establishing a constant trajectory through circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said switch;

c. maintaining component supply energy through circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said switch; and

d. stabilizing said alternating power output through circuitry which is also responsive to said alternating power output of said switch.

43. A method of switch-mode powering a DC computer system as described in claim 42 wherein said step of driving said switch to establish a frequency establishes a drive bias, and further comprising the steps of:

a. altering said drive bias through circuitry to which said step of driving said switch is responsive; and

b. directly controlling said drive bias through a network to which said drive bias is responsive.