Apparatus and method for controlled preload operation of an electrical converter

• US 6,519,166 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lineage Power Corporation (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Li Li
• Inventors: Li, Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/046,007
• Time in Patent Office: 472 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.11, 363/21.12, 363/21.16, 363/16, 363/17, 363/20, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/21.17
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33592 having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a synchronous freewheeling circuit at the secondary side of an isolation transformer
• 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 apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device that includes a primary circuit section inductively coupled with at least one secondary circuit section presenting at least one output voltage at at least one output locus includes: (a) a load coupled with at least one selected output locus of the at least one output locus; (b) a switch device electrically coupling the load within the at least one secondary circuit section; and (c) a timer device coupled with the switch device. The timer device orients the switch device to electrically disconnect the load from the at least one secondary circuit section after a predetermined time interval elapses.

Claims

1. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device;

said electrical converter device including a primary circuit section and at least one secondary circuit section;

said primary circuit section being inductively coupled with said at least one secondary circuit section;

said at least one secondary circuit section presenting at least one output voltage at at least one output locus;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) a load coupled with at least one selected output locus of said at least one output locus;

(b) a switch device;

said switch device electrically coupling said load within said at least one secondary circuit section; and

(c) a timer device coupled with said switch device;

said timer device orienting said switch device to electrically disconnect said load from said at least one secondary circuit section after an elapsing of a predetermined time interval.

2. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one secondary circuit section includes a bias power circuit for powering selected portions of said at least one secondary circuit section;

and wherein the apparatus is coupled with said bias power circuit for receiving operating power.

3. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 1 wherein said timer device is an RC timer circuit.

4. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 2 wherein said timer device is an RC timer circuit.

5. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 3 wherein said timer device includes customer-accessible connection loci for accommodating coupling of additional components with said timer device;

said additional components affecting said time interval.

6. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 4 wherein said timer device includes customer-accessible connection loci for accommodating coupling of additional components with said timer device;

said additional components affecting said time interval.

7. An apparatus for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device;

said electrical converter device including a primary circuit section and a plurality of secondary circuit sections;

said primary circuit section being inductively coupled with said plurality of secondary circuit sections;

each respective secondary circuit section of said plurality of secondary circuit sections presenting an output voltage at a respective output locus;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) a respective load coupled with each said respective output locus;

(b) a respective switch device electrically coupling each said respective load within said respective secondary circuit section; and

(c) a respective timer device coupled with each said respective switch device;

each said respective timer device orienting said respective switch device to electrically disconnect said respective load from said respective secondary circuit section after an elapsing of a predetermined time interval.

8. An apparatus for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 7 wherein each said respective secondary circuit section includes a bias power circuit for powering selected portions of said respective secondary circuit section;

and wherein the apparatus is coupled with at least one said bias power circuit for receiving operating power.

9. An apparatus for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 7 wherein said timer device is an RC timer circuit.

10. An apparatus for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 8 wherein said timer device is an RC timer circuit.

11. An apparatus for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 9 wherein said timer device includes customer-accessible connection loci for accommodating coupling of additional components with said timer device;

said additional components affecting said time interval.

12. An apparatus for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 10 wherein said timer device includes customer-accessible connection loci for accommodating coupling of additional components with said timer device;

said additional components affecting said time interval.

13. A method for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device;

said electrical converter device including a primary circuit section and a plurality of secondary circuit sections;

said primary circuit section being inductively coupled with said plurality of secondary circuit sections;

each respective secondary circuit section of said plurality of secondary circuit sections presenting an output voltage at a respective output locus;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing a respective load coupled with each said respective output locus;

(b) providing a respective switch device electrically coupling each said respective load within said respective secondary circuit section;

(c) providing a respective timer device coupled with each said respective switch device; and

(d) operating each said respective timer device to orient said respective switch device to electrically disconnect said respective load from said respective secondary circuit section after an elapsing of a predetermined time interval.

14. A method for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 13 wherein each said respective secondary circuit section includes a bias power circuit for powering selected portions of said respective secondary circuit section;

and wherein each said respective timer device is coupled with at least one said bias power circuit for receiving operating power.

15. A method for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 13 wherein said timer device is an RC timer circuit.

16. A method for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 14 wherein said timer device is an RC timer circuit.

17. A method for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 15 wherein said timer device includes customer-accessible connection loci for accommodating coupling of additional components with said timer device;

said additional components affecting said time interval.

18. A method for effecting a controlled preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 16 wherein said timer device includes customer-accessible connection loci for accommodating coupling of additional components with said timer device;

said additional components affecting said time interval.

19. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device;

said electrical converter device including at least one secondary circuit section;

each said at least one secondary circuit section including an output locus;

the apparatus coupled to the output locus of at least one of the at least one secondary circuit sections and comprising;

(a) a load;

(b) a switch device electrically coupling said load within said at least one secondary circuit section; and

(c) a timer device coupled with said switch device;

said timer device orienting said switch device to electrically disconnect said load from said at least one secondary circuit section after a predetermined time interval.

20. An apparatus for effecting a preload operation of an electrical converter device as recited in claim 19 wherein said at least one secondary circuit section includes a bias power circuit for powering selected portions of said at least one secondary circuit section and the timer device is coupled with said bias power circuit for receiving operating power.

21. An electrical converter device comprising:

(a) a primary circuit section;

(b) at least one secondary circuit section, said primary circuit section being inductively coupled with said at least one secondary circuit section, said at least one secondary circuit section presenting at least one output voltage at at least one output locus; and

(c) a preload element including;

(1) a load coupled with at least one selected output locus of said at least one output locus;

(2) a switch device electrically coupling said load within said at least one secondary circuit section; and

(3) a timer device coupled with said switch device, said timer device orienting said switch device to electrically disconnect said load from said at least one secondary circuit section after an elapsing of a predetermined time interval.