Modular high voltage power supply for chemical analysis

• US 7,400,119 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Yee, Daniel D., Stamps, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, YOUNGHUIE JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US11/635,288
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 365/51, 361728-733, 361/785, 361/788, 361/791, 320/148, 326/33, 326/34, 330/296, 307/44, 307/45, 307/60, 307/86
• US Class Current: 323/266
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1584 with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/902 Optical coupling to semiconductor

Abstract

A high voltage power supply for use in a system such as a microfluidics system, uses a DC-DC converter in parallel with a voltage-controlled resistor. A feedback circuit provides a control signal for the DC-DC converter and voltage-controlled resistor so as to regulate the output voltage of the high voltage power supply, as well as, to sink or source current from the high voltage supply.

Claims

1. A high voltage power supply comprising:

DC-DC converter having a low voltage input to which an input current is applied and a high voltage output at which an output current and an output voltage are developed;

a voltage controlled resistor being electrically coupled to said high voltage output in parallel with said DC-DC converter and having a control input wherein a resistance of said voltage controlled resistor is determined by an input voltage applied to said control input of said voltage controlled resistor; and

a feedback circuit operatively connected between said high voltage output of said DC-DC converter and said control input of said voltage controlled resistor, said feedback circuit being responsive to each of a reference voltage and a feedback signal proportional to said output voltage and operative to develop said input voltage which varies as a function of variation in said feedback signal, said voltage controlled resistor in response to variation of said input voltage being operative to vary said resistance such that variation of said resistance is in opposition to a variation of said output voltage to maintain said output voltage substantially constant.

2. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

a memory in which readable information relating to voltage conversion curves of said DC-DC converter is stored;

an operation detection unit that develops a voltage proportional to said output voltage; and

a current sensor that develops a voltage proportional to said output current, said reference voltage being developed by a microprocessor in response to each of said voltage developed by said operation detection unit and said voltage developed by said current sensor in accordance with said information to maintain said output current constant.

3. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 2 wherein said feedback signal is applied to said operation detection unit, said operation detection unit developing said voltage proportional to said output voltage in response to said feedback signal.

4. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a microprocessor, said information stored in said memory being readable by said microprocessor, said microprocessor being operative to develop said reference voltage in response to each of said voltage developed by said operation detection unit and said voltage developed by said current sensor in accordance with said information to maintain said output current constant.

5. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 4 wherein said information stored in said memory is an output voltage/output current curve of said DC-DC convert and further wherein said microprocessor develops said reference voltage to maintain said output voltage and said current commensurate with said output voltage/output current curve.

6. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 2 wherein said current sensor has an input at which said output current is sensed, said input of said current sensor being maintained at a fixed voltage to form a virtual ground.

7. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a voltage divider being electrically connected in parallel with said voltage controlled resistor and said DC-DC converter, said voltage divider being operative to develop said feedback signal as a function of said output voltage wherein said feed back signal is applied to said feedback circuit.

8. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 7 wherein said feedback circuit is operative to compare said feedback signal to said reference voltage to develop said input voltage.

9. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 8 wherein said feedback circuit is an operational amplifier operative to develop said input voltage as a difference between said reference voltage and said feedback signal.

10. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a current generator being responsive to said input voltage developed by said feedback circuit and being operative to develop said input current applied to said input of said DC-DC converter wherein said input current varies with variation of said input voltage such that variation of said input voltage is in opposition to variation of said output voltage to maintain said output voltage substantially constant.

11. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 10 wherein said current generator includes a voltage follower transistor having a normally biased collector, an emitter at which said input current is developed, and a base to which said input voltage is applied.

12. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 1 wherein said voltage controlled resistor is an MOS photo relay having a photo diode to which said input voltage is applied and a pair of series connected MOS switches defining said resistor, said photodiode emitting light in response to said input voltage wherein variation in said input voltage causes a corresponding variation in said light, said switches being operative to develop a current in said switches proportionally in response to said light such that said current in said switches determines said resistance of said voltage controlled resistor.

13. A high voltage power supply as set forth in claim 12 wherein said photodiode has a normally biased anode and a cathode to which said input voltage is applied.