Switching power supply apparatus with active clamp circuit

• US 6,366,476 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yasumura, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US09/855,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 363/20, 363/21.01, 363/21.02, 363/21.04, 363/21.08, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/21.02
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/01 Resonant DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3385 with automatic control of output voltage or current H02M3/33561 takes precedence
• 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

An active clamp circuit is provided on the primary side of a complex resonance type switching converter having a voltage resonance type converter on the primary side and a parallel resonant circuit on the secondary side. The active clamp circuit clamps a parallel resonance voltage pulse generated across a primary-side parallel resonant capacitor to thereby suppress the level of the parallel resonance voltage pulse. Thus, products having low withstand voltage may be selected for components such as switching devices and the primary-side parallel resonant capacitor provided in the power supply circuit. An auxiliary switching device Q2 of the active clamp circuit is driven by a self-oscillation circuit formed by winding a wire of the primary winding of an insulating converter transformer by one turn. Thus, the circuit system for driving the active clamp circuit is simplified, thereby improving power conversion efficiency and miniaturizing the power supply circuit.

Claims

1. A switching power supply circuit comprising:

switching means showing a main switching device for interrupting an inputted direct-current input voltage;

a primary-side parallel resonant capacitor for forming a primary-side parallel resonant circuit that converts operation of said switching means into a voltage resonance type operation;

an isolating converter transformer having a primary-side winding and a secondary-side winding for transmitting an output of said switching means obtained in said primary-side winding to said secondary-side winding, said primary-side winding and said secondary-side winding being wound so as to be loosely coupled to each other with a predetermined coupling coefficient;

a secondary-side resonant circuit formed by connecting a secondary-side resonant capacitor to said secondary-side winding;

direct-current output voltage generating means for rectifying an alternating voltage inputted from said secondary-side winding and thereby providing a direct-current output voltage;

active clamp means for clamping a primary-side parallel resonance voltage generated across said primary-side parallel resonant capacitor during an off period of said main switching device, said active clamp means including an auxiliary switching device driven for switching operation by self-oscillation driving; and

switching driving means for effecting control for constant voltage by driving said main switching device for said switching operation such that a switching frequency of said main switching device is variably controlled according to level of said direct-current output voltage, and concurrently, an on/off period of said main switching device within one switching cycle is changed.

2. The switching power supply circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary switching device is driven by a self-oscillation switching output obtained in a driving winding formed by winding a wire of said primary-side winding.

3. The switching power supply circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said resonant circuit is formed by connecting said secondary-side resonant capacitor in one of in series and in parallel with said secondary-side winding.

4. The switching power supply circuit claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary switching device is formed by a MOS-FET or an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).