DC-DC converter having magnetic feedback

• US 7,378,828 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Brandt, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett; Jeffrey L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEHM, HARRY RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US10/985,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 323/247, 323/331, 323/250, 323/251, 323/261, 323/262, 323/259, 323/334, 323/355, 323/332, 323/356, 323/290, 323/328, 363/91, 363/90, 363/75, 363/82, 336/155, 336/12
• US Class Current: 323/290
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/06 characterised by the structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/10 Single-phase transformers H01F30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/40 Means for preventing magnetic saturation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Abstract

A DC-DC converter suitable for multiple converter circuit topologies is disclosed. The DC-DC converter utilizes magnetic feedback of the output load current to provide broad inductance control of a magnetic element, while inhibiting saturation of the switched winding or windings of the magnetic element.

Claims

1. A voltage regulating DC-DC converter comprising:

a pulse width modulator switch that receives an input voltage and provides a modulated voltage;

a power filter in electrical communication with the pulse width modulator switch that filters the modulated voltage to facilitate use thereof by a load; and

a magnetic element comprising a first winding and a second winding orthogonal to the first winding,

wherein the second winding is adapted to provide a load current to the load, and

wherein the magnetic element defines a part of a feedback circuit that uses magnetic feedback effected by the load current through the second winding to vary an inductance of the magnetic element so as to vary current through the first winding and thus effect voltage regulation.

2. The DC-DC convener as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises an inductor of the power filter.

3. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element comprises a law profile magnetic material.

4. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element has a variable inductance that facilitates closed loop feedback control of an output voltage of the DC-DC converter.

5. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element uses magnetic feedback effected by a load current to vary an inductance of the magnetic element while inhibiting saturation of a winding of the magnetic element.

6. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element uses magnetic feedback effected by a load current to vary an inductance of the magnetic element the feedback being negative feedback.

7. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the pulse width modulator comprises an enhancement mode, n-channel, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor.

8. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the power filter comprises at least one of an inductor and a capacitor.

9. The DC-DC convener as recited in claim 1, wherein the power filter comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

10. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, wherein the power filter comprises an inductor and a capacitor, the capacitor being configured to provide current to a load while the inductor is being charged and the inductor being configured to provide current to the load while the inductor is being discharged.

11. The DC-DC converter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rectifier coupled so as to allow current to flow in a manner that charges a capacitor and also so as to inhibit the capacitor from discharging through the pulse width modulation switch.

12. A method for performing voltage regulated DC-DC conversion, the method comprising:

applying a DC input voltage to a pulse width modulated switch;

pulse width modulating the DC input voltage to provide a pulse width modulated voltage;

power filtering the pulse width modulated voltage to provide a filtered voltage;

applying the filtered voltage to a load;

providing feedback representative of a load current to a low profile magnetic element so as to cause the magnetic element to enhance voltage regulation; and

wherein the magnetic element uses magnetic feedback effected by an output load current through an orthogonal winding to vary an inductance of the magnetic element.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnetic element comprises an inductor of a power filter.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnetic element comprises a magnetic material and has two orthogonal windings.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnetic element has a variable inductance that facilitates closed loop feedback control of an output voltage of the DC-DC converter.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnetic element uses magnetic feedback effected by an output load current to vary an inductance of the magnetic element while inhibiting saturation of windings of the magnetic element.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the magnetic element uses magnetic feedback effected by an output load current to vary an inductance of the magnetic element, the feedback being negative feedback.