Method and circuit for reducing voltage level variation in a bias voltage in a power converter

• US 6,466,461 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netpower Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netpower Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Jiang, Yimin, Mao, Hengchun
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/068,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20020110006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.08, 363/21.09, 363/21.16, 363/21.17, 363/24
• US Class Current: 363/21.08
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33569 having several active switching elements H02M3/3353 takes precedence

Abstract

Circuit and method for reducing voltage level variation in a bias voltage generated in a power converter device are provided. The method allows providing a first voltage source configured to supply a first voltage during one respective mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the level of the voltage supplied by the first voltage source is directly proportional to variation in an input voltage of the converter device. The method further allows providing a second voltage source configured to supply a second voltage during another respective mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the level of the voltage supplied by the second voltage source has a generally inverse proportional relationship relative to variation in the input voltage of the converter device. At least one circuit parameter is selected in the voltage sources to adjust the respective levels of the first and second voltages. The first and second voltages are combined with one another to generate a combined voltage that comprises the bias voltage in the power converter device, the combined voltage resulting in a bias voltage level being relatively impervious to variation in the input voltage of the converter device.

Claims

1. A method for reducing voltage level variation in a bias voltage generated in a power converter device, the method comprising:

providing a first voltage source configured to supply a first voltage during one respective mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the level of the voltage supplied by the first voltage source is directly proportional to variation in an input voltage of the converter device;

providing a second voltage source configured to supply a second voltage during another respective mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the level of the voltage supplied by the second voltage source has a generally inverse proportional relationship relative to variation in the input voltage of the converter device;

selecting at least one circuit parameter in the voltage sources to adjust the respective levels of the first and second voltages; and

combining the first and second voltages to generate a combined voltage that comprises the bias voltage in the power converter device, the combined voltage resulting in a bias voltage level being relatively impervious to variation in the input voltage of the converter device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each voltage source comprises at least one bias winding coupled to a transformer in the power converter device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each voltage source is coupled to share at least a portion of a common winding.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second voltage is based on a reset voltage being applied to the transformer during a transformer reset period.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said transformer reset period comprises one of the respective modes of operation of the power converter, and wherein a period of forward-voltage generation comprises the other of the respective modes of operation of the power converter.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor for holding voltage supplied by at least one of the voltage sources during one of the respective modes of operation of the power converter.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising coupling at least one filter capacitor for holding the voltage supplied by at least one of the voltage sources and the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor during the other of the respective modes of operation of the power converter.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the capacitance of the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor to adjust the voltage level of the bias voltage.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising coupling a first diode to provide a voltage charging path to the intermediate voltage-holding capacitor from at least one of the voltage sources during one of the respective modes of operation of the power converter, said first diode being further coupled to provide a non-conductive path during the other of the respective modes of operation of the power converter.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising coupling a second diode to provide an energizing path through a series connection of at least one of the voltage sources and the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor to any load coupled to receive the bias voltage during the other of the respective modes of operation of the converter device, said second diode being further coupled to provide a non-conductive path when the first diode is conductively coupled.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one circuit parameter being selected comprises a respective turns ratio of the bias windings relative to a primary winding of the transformer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the turns ratio of the bias windings is fractionally adjustable.

13. A circuit for reducing voltage level variation in a bias voltage generated in a power converter device, the circuit comprising:

a first voltage source configured to supply a first voltage during one respective mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the level of the voltage supplied by the first voltage source is directly proportional to variation in an input voltage of the converter device;

a second voltage source configured to supply a second voltage during another respective mode of operation of the power converter, wherein the level of the voltage supplied by the second voltage source has a generally inverse proportional relationship relative to variation in the input voltage of the converter device, with at least one circuit parameter being selected in the voltage sources to adjust the respective levels of the first and second voltages, and further wherein the first and second voltages are additively coupled to generate a combined voltage that comprises the bias voltage in the power converter device, the combined voltage resulting in a bias voltage level being relatively impervious to variation in the input voltage of the converter device.

14. The circuit of claim 13 wherein each voltage source comprises at least one bias winding coupled to a transformer in the power converter device.

15. The circuit of claim 13 wherein each voltage source is coupled to share at least a portion of a common winding coupled to a transformer in the power converter device.

16. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the second voltage is based on a reset voltage being applied to the transformer during a transformer reset period.

17. The circuit of claim 16 wherein said transformer reset period comprises one of the respective modes of operation of the power converter, and wherein a period of forward-voltage generation comprises the other of the respective modes of operation of the power converter.

18. The circuit of claim 13 further comprising at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor for holding voltage supplied by at least one of the voltage sources during one of the respective modes of operation of the power converter device.

19. The circuit of claim 18 further comprising at least one filter capacitor for holding the voltage supplied by at least one of the voltage sources and the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor during the other of the respective modes of operation of the power converter.

20. The circuit of claim 18 wherein the capacitance of the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor is adjustable to controllably affect the level of the bias voltage.

21. The circuit of claim 18 further comprising a first diode coupled to provide a voltage charging path to the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor from at least one of the voltage sources during one of the respective modes of operation of the power converter, said first diode being further coupled to provide a non-conductive path during the other of the respective modes of operation of the converter device.

22. The circuit of claim 19 further comprising a second diode coupled to provide an energizing path through a series connection of at least one of the voltage sources and the at least one intermediate voltage-holding capacitor to any load coupled to receive the bias voltage during the other of the respective modes of operation of the converter device, said second diode being further coupled to provide a non-conductive path when the first diode is conductively coupled.

23. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the at least one circuit parameter being selected comprises a respective turns ratio of the bias windings relative to a primary winding of the transformer.

24. The circuit of claim 23 wherein at least one of the bias windings is configured to provide a fractionally-adjustable turns ratio.