Method and apparatus for reducing standby power in power supplies

• US 6,480,401 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Tang, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/805,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20020131279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/20, 363/21.01, 363/21.12, 363/21.15, 363/21.18, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/21.02
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take 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

Power consumption of a low-power flyback power converter under standby-load or no-load conditions is reduced by modulating the OFF time of the flyback transformer'"'"'s main switch as a function of the feedback control current when the load drops below a predetermined level. This modulation overcomes the conventional frequency-increasing modulation of the ON time at low output power levels so as to reduce the switching frequency, and hence the switching losses, to minimal levels as the load is reduced. Excessive frequency reduction can optionally be avoided by a clamping feature that limits the expansion of the OFF time.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the power consumption under low-load or no-load conditions of a flyback power converter using a pulsed current switch to control current flow through the primary winding of the flyback transformer, comprising the steps of:

a) maintaining the OFF time of said switch constant when the load on said converter exceeds a predetermined level, and

b) increasing the OFF time of said switch as an inverse function of said load when said load is below said predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the ON time of said switch is a direct function of said load, and said OFF time increases more rapidly than said ON time decreases when said load is decreasing below said predetermined level.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the increase of said OFF time with decreasing load is limited to a predetermined maximum OFF time value.

4. A method of reducing the power consumption under low-load or no-load conditions of a flyback power converter using a pulsed current switch to control current flow through the primary winding of the flyback transformer, comprising the steps of:

a) producing a control signal representative of the load on said converter;

b) applying said control signal to a ramp generator to cause said ramp generator to generate a ramp having first and second stages, the first stage having a steep, substantially constant slope, and the second stage having a shallower, variable slope which is a function of said control signal;

c) comparing said ramp to a fixed reference; and

d) turning said switch ON when said ramp exceeds said reference.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of

e) comparing said control signal to a signal representative of the current through said switch; and

f) turning said switch OFF when said switch current representative signal exceeds said control signal.

6. A circuit for saving power in a power supply at low load or no load, comprising:

a) a switch;

b) a transformer having a primary winding so connected as to store energy when said switch is ON and to release it when said switch is OFF;

c) a control signal source arranged to provide a control current signal which is an inverse function of the load on said power supply;

d) circuitry arranged to turn said switch OFF when current through said primary winding exceeds said control current signal;

e) a capacitor connected to turn said switch ON when said capacitor is charged above a predetermined level; and

f) circuitry arranged to charge said capacitor at a single, substantially fixed rate when said control current signal is below a predetermined level, and at a two-stage rate when said control current signal is above said predetermined level;

g) said two-stage rate including a first stage in which the charging rate is fixed, and a second stage in which the charging rate is slower and is variable as a function of said current control signal.

7. The circuit of claim 6, in which the charging rate during said second stage is slowed by diverting from the charging circuit of said capacitor a portion of the available charging current that is a function of said control current signal.

8. The circuit of claim 7, further comprising a zener diode connected to limit the diversion of charging current from the charging circuit of said capacitor.

9. The circuit of claim 6, in which the effect on the switching frequency of said switch of the slowing charging rate with decreasing load in said second stage is greater than the effect on said switching frequency of the shortening of said ON time by the increase in said control current signal with decreasing load.

10. The circuit of claim 9, in which said second stage charging rate is so varied as a function of said control current signal that said switching frequency is substantially zero at no load.