Dissipative clamping of an electrical circuit with a clamp voltage varied in response to an input voltage

• US 6,687,141 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Inventors: Odell, Arthur B.
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US10/267,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.04, 363/56.09, 363/56.11, 363/56.12
• US Class Current: 363/56.11
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/34 Snubber circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/344 Active dissipative snubbers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33569 having several active switching elements H02M3/3353 takes precedence

Abstract

Dissipative clamping apparatuses and methods for electrical circuits. In one aspect of the invention, In one aspect of the invention, a method includes switching a power supply input on an energy transfer element, regulating a power supply output by switching the power supply input on the energy transfer element, clamping a voltage on the energy transfer element to a clamp voltage and varying the clamp voltage in response to the power supply input. In another aspect, an electrical circuit includes a dissipative clamp circuit coupled to an input of the electrical circuit. An inductive element is coupled between the dissipative clamp circuit and an output of the electrical circuit. A switch is coupled in series with the inductive element. The dissipative clamp circuit is coupled to provide a clamp voltage across the inductive element, the clamp voltage is provided by the dissipative clamp circuit responsive to conditions at the input of the electrical circuit, the dissipative clamp circuit is coupled to maintain a voltage across the switch below a switch voltage limit.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit, comprising:

a dissipative clamp circuit coupled to an input of the electrical circuit;

an inductive element coupled between the dissipative clamp circuit and an output of the electrical circuit; and

a switch coupled in series with the inductive element;

the dissipative clamp circuit coupled to provide a clamp voltage across the inductive element, the clamp voltage provided by the dissipative clamp circuit varied in response to an input voltage received at the input of the electrical circuit such that a sum of the clamp voltage and the input voltage remain substantially constant during circuit operation.

2. The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the dissipative clamp circuit coupled to maintain a voltage across the switch below a switch voltage limit.

3. The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the dissipative clamp circuit comprises a transistor coupled to the inductive element to dissipate energy stored in the inductive element.

4. The electrical circuit of claim 3 wherein the transistor comprises a bipolar transistor.

5. The electrical circuit of claim 3 wherein the transistor comprises a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor.

6. The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the input of the electrical circuit is coupled to receive an input voltage.

7. The electrical circuit of claim 6 wherein the dissipative circuit is coupled to be responsive to varying voltage conditions at the input of the electrical circuit.

8. The electrical circuit of claim 1 wherein the dissipative circuit is coupled to be responsive to a varying amount of energy being clamped across the inductive element of the electrical circuit.

9. The electrical circuit of claim 8 wherein the amount of energy being clamped across the inductive element varies in response to a varying peak current in the inductive element.

10. The electrical circuit of claim 9 wherein the output of the electrical circuit is coupled to a load, the varying peak current in the inductive element to vary in response to changes in the load coupled to the output of the electrical circuit.

11. The electrical circuit of claim 9 wherein the varying peak current in the inductive element is coupled to vary in response to a soft start period of a control of the switch.

12. An electrical circuit, comprising:

a dissipative clamp circuit coupled to an input of the electrical circuit;

an inductive element coupled between the dissipative clamp circuit and an output of the electrical circuit; and

a switch coupled in series with the inductive element;

the dissipative clamp circuit coupled to provide a clamp voltage across the inductive element, the clamp voltage provided by the dissipative clamp circuit varied in response to an input voltage received at the input of the electrical circuit.

13. The electrical circuit of claim 12 wherein the dissipative clamp circuit is coupled to maintain a voltage across the switch below a switch voltage limit.