Power circuit and method for controlling drive and control voltages of an image formation apparatus

• US 6,845,018 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohishi, Hiroto
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US10/369,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.06, 363/21.14, 363/127
• US Class Current: 363/21.06
• 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: 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

Synchronous rectifier circuits are provided for each secondary windings of a transformer. Field-effect transistors of which ON voltage is lower than the forward voltage of a diode are provided in each of the synchronous rectifier circuits. In an energy saving mode, the field-effect transistors in the synchronous rectifier circuit that outputs a diving voltage are turned OFF. A comparator circuit outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between a control voltage output from one of the synchronous rectifier circuits and a reference voltage. Based on this signal, a pulse-width modulation control circuit ON/OFF controls a field-effect transistor provided corresponding to a primary winding of a transformer in such a manner that the control voltage the reference control voltage attain predetermined levels.

Claims

1. A power circuit that supplies a power voltage to an image formation apparatus, comprising:

a transformer having a primary winding, a plurality of secondary windings, and a first switching element connected to the primary winding, the transformer configured to input a primary voltage of the primary winding and to output respective secondary voltages from each of the secondary windings;

a synchronous rectifying unit including a second switching element the synchronous first rectifying unit connected to one of the secondary windings, the synchronous first rectifying unit configured to rectify the secondary voltage of the one of the secondary windings and to output a driving voltage;

a second rectifying unit connected to another of the secondary windings, the second rectifying unit configured to rectify the secondary voltage of the another of the secondary windings and to output a control voltage;

a pulse-width modulation control unit configured to control the primary winding based on a difference between the control voltage and a reference voltage, such that the driving voltage and the control voltage attain respective predetermined voltage levels; and

a synchronous rectification control unit configured to control the second switching element according to an operation mode,

wherein, when the operation mode is a normal operation mode in which the image formation apparatus carries out image formation, the synchronous rectification control unit switches the second switching element to set the first synchronous rectifying unit to an electrically conducting state whereby the driving voltage is output, and

when the operation mode is an energy saving mode in which the image formation apparatus is in a waiting state, the synchronous rectification control unit switches the second switching element to set the synchronous first rectifying unit to an electrically non-conducting state whereby the driving voltage is not output.

2. The power circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second rectifying unit is a synchronous rectifier circuit including a switching element.

3. The power circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a reference voltage changing unit that changes the reference voltage,

wherein in the energy saving mode, the reference voltage changing unit sets the reference voltage to a lower level than a level during the normal operation mode.

4. The power circuit according to claim 3, wherein in the energy saving mode, the reference voltage changing unit sets the reference voltage to a level that is a lowest voltage required for operation of a control circuit connected to a control output terminal configured to output the control voltage.

5. The power circuit according to claim 3, wherein in the energy saving mode, the reference voltage changing unit sets the reference voltage to greater than or equal to 90% of a rated voltage of a control circuit connected to a control output terminal configured to output the control voltage.

6. The power circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a time setting unit that sets a time duration after which the normal operation mode is shifted to the energy saving mode after ending the image formation operation.

7. The power circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second rectifying unit is a synchronous rectifying unit, and

the synchronous rectification control unit switches switching elements in each of the first and second synchronous rectifying units according to the operation mode.

8. A method of supplying a power voltage to an image formation apparatus, comprising:

converting a primary voltage of a primary winding to respective secondary voltages of secondary windings;

rectifying the secondary voltage of one of the secondary windings and outputting a driving voltage;

rectifying the secondary voltage of another of the secondary windings and outputting a control voltage;

controlling the primary winding based on a difference between the control voltage and a variable reference voltage, such that the driving voltage and the control voltage attain respective predetermined voltage levels; and

switching, based on an operation mode, a second switching element connected to the one of the secondary windings.

9. A power circuit that supplies a power voltage to an image formation apparatus, comprising:

a transformer including a primary winding, a plurality of secondary windings, and a first switching element connected to the primary winding, the transformer configured to input a primary voltage of the primary winding and to output respective secondary voltages from each of the secondary windings;

a synchronous first rectifying unit including a second switching element, the synchronous first rectifying unit connected to one of the secondary windings, the synchronous first rectifying unit configured to rectify the secondary voltage of the one of the secondary windings and to output a driving voltage;

a second rectifying unit connected to another of the secondary windings, the second rectifying unit configured to rectify the secondary voltage of the another of the secondary windings and to output a control voltage;

a pulse-width modulation control unit configured to control the primary winding based on a difference between the control voltage and a variable reference voltage, such that the driving voltage and the control voltage attain respective predetermined voltage levels; and

a synchronous rectification control unit configured to control the second switching element according to an operation mode.

10. The power circuit according to claim 9, further comprising:

a reference voltage changing unit that changes the reference voltage depending on a normal mode in which the image formation apparatus carries out image formation or an energy saving mode in which the image formation apparatus is in a waiting state,

wherein, in the energy saving mode, the synchronous rectification control unit switches the synchronous first rectifying unit to an electrically non-conducting state, the pulse-width modulation control unit processes the control voltage output from a control output terminal based on an energy saving mode reference voltage differing from a normal mode reference voltage, and the control voltage decreases to a level lower than a reference control voltage.

11. A method of supplying a power voltage to an image formation apparatus, comprising:

converting a primary voltage of a primary winding to respective secondary voltages of secondary windings;

rectifying the secondary voltage of one of the secondary windings and outputting a driving voltage;

rectifying the secondary voltage of another of the secondary windings and outputting a control voltage;

controlling the primary winding based on a difference between the control voltage and a reference voltage, such that the driving voltage and the control voltage attain respective predetermined voltage levels; and

switching a second switching element connected to the one of the secondary windings, such that (1) during a normal operation mode in which the image formation apparatus carries out image formation, the driving voltage is output, and (2) during an energy saving mode in which the image formation apparatus is in a waiting state, the driving voltage is not output.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

setting a time duration after which the normal operation mode is shifted to the energy saving mode after ending the image formation operation.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

setting the reference voltage to a lower level in the energy saving mode than the reference voltage in the normal operation mode.