Switch mode power supply

• US 6,504,733 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, William Vincent, Watson, Robert Goah III
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf Deneke
• Application Number:
  US09/794,550
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 363/18, 363/19, 363/16, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/19
• 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

When a main switching transistor of a zero voltage switching power supply is conductive, a voltage is developed in a current sensing resistor coupled in series with the transistor. The voltage in the current sensing resistor is coupled to a control terminal of a comparator transistor. During a given conduction interval of the main switching transistor, the comparator transistor is turned on when the current sensing resistor voltage is sufficiently large to turn on the comparator transistor. An output of the comparator transistor is coupled to the control terminal of the main switching transistor for controlling the turn off instant of the main switching transistor on a current pulse-by-current pulse basis. A resonant voltage pulse developed at a main current conducting terminal of the main switching transistor is capacitively coupled to the control terminal of the comparator transistor for maintaining the comparator transistor turned on, during a transition interval of the resonant voltage pulse.

Claims

1. A switch mode power supply, comprising:

a source of an input supply voltage;

a supply inductance coupled to said input supply voltage source;

a capacitance coupled to said supply inductance to form a tuned, resonant circuit;

a first switching transistor for generating pulses in said supply inductance that are coupled to a load such that in a given switching period a resonant current pulse is generated in said capacitance; and

means for controlling said first switching transistor to provide zero voltage switching including a current sensor responsive to said resonant current in said capacitance for applying said resonant current to said first switching transistor to maintain said first switching transistor turned off during a portion of said resonant current pulse.

2. A power supply according to claim 1, wherein said current sensor comprises a resistor coupled in series with said capacitance and a second switching transistor coupled to a control terminal of said first switching transistor and responsive to a voltage developed in said resistor for maintaining said first switching transistor turned off, during said resonant pulse portion.

3. A power supply according to claim 2, wherein said second switching transistor operates in a non-latched manner.

4. A power supply according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means is responsive to a signal indicative of a current in said first switching transistor for controlling said first switching transistor in a current mode control operation.

5. A switch mode power supply, comprising:

a source of an input supply voltage;

a supply inductance coupled to said input supply voltage source;

a capacitance having a first terminal coupled to said supply inductance to form a tuned, resonant circuit;

a first switching transistor operating in a zero voltage switching mode for generating in a given period a pulse in said supply inductance that is coupled to a load and for generating a resonant current pulse in said capacitance; and

a current sensor responsive to said resonant current pulse for generating a control signal that maintains said first switching transistor turned off during a portion of said given period.