AC/DC converter with power factor correction (PFC)

• US 6,594,158 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Central Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Wei, Huai, Kornetzky, Peter, Batarseh, Issa
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/764,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 307/110, 363/59-62, 363/16, 363/89, 363/97, 363/127, 363/131, 363/37, 323/222
• US Class Current: 363/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4258 using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of a regulated and galvanically isolated DC output voltage H02M1/4241 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

One-stage power factor correction (PFC) with output electrical isolation. Two types of PFC converters are proposed here: 1) Multi stage capacitive-switching network low voltage PFC converter and 2) two-switch soft switching PFC converters. This resulted in a near unity power factor AC-DC converter with low voltage output. The second converter uses the power switch in combination with a grounded auxiliary switch to produce soft-switching converter to operate in high switching frequencies. Due to its simplified power stage and control circuit, this converter presents a variety of benefits including better efficiency (87%), lower cost, higher reliability, increased operating frequencies into the hundreds of kilo-hertz range and low operating voltages of less than 5 volts. With PSPICE simulation and experimental results, a measured power factor of 0.99 was obtained by the single switch converter.

Claims

1. A power supply that provides a DC (Direct Current) power to a load from an AC (Alternating Current) source comprising:

a rectifying stage for transferring electrical energy from an AC source into pulsating unipolar voltage pulses at output terminals;

a boost stage having a controllable conducting means and a first unidirectional conducting means for controlling current flow from the output terminals of the rectifying stage and blocking the current flow into the opposite direction and a single controllable switching device connected across the output terminals and more than one inductive-capacitive stages connected between said boost stage and a forward stage providing an inductive energy storing circuit when said switching device is closed and a capacitive charging circuit when said switching device opens whereby a conversion efficiency of over approximately 75% (seventy-five percent) AC to DC is achieved and an outlet voltage of approximately five (5) volts and lower.

2. A power supply of claim 1 wherein said more than one inductive-capacitative stages are from 2(two) to 5(five) in number.

3. A power supply of claim 1 wherein said more than one inductive-capacitative stages are 4(four) in number whereby output voltage of approximately 3.3(three-point-three) is realized.

4. An AC to DC converter with power factor correction, comprising in combination:

a power supply;

a power factor correction (PFC)circuit means;

an AC to DC power conversion circuit means connected to the PFC circuit means;

a step-down switched capacitor network; and

,

a power on and off switch and an on and off auxiliary switch for controlling both the PFC circuit means and the AC to DC power conversion circuit means, wherein the converter operates at an efficiency of greater than approximately 80% (eighty percent) and at a frequency of greater than about 500 (five hundred) kilo-hertz.

5. The power supply of claim 4 wherein the auxiliary switch is grounded.

6. The power supply of claim 4 wherein both of said switches each have a resonant capacitor and a blocking diode whereby the switch voltage is blocked.

7. The power supply of claim 4 wherein the controllable conducting mean, which operates with a switching frequency, is greater than approximately 500(five hundred) kilo-hertz.

8. The power supply of claim 4 wherein a ratio between on and off time of said controllable means is controlled by:

means for sensing at least one of voltage and current of the power supply.

9. The power supply of claim 5 wherein the ratio between on and off time of said controllable conducting means is also controlled by:

a sensed overload of the power supply.

10. The power supply of claim 5 wherein the ratio between on and off time of said controllable conducting means is further controlled by:

an external source chosen from one of;

a voltage; and

current.