Configuring a power converter to operate with or without burst mode functionality

• US 7,529,105 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Chung, Richard Chang-Wei, Parmenter, Kevin, Choi, Jin Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US11/592,372
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.12, 363/21.13, 363/21.15, 363/21.16, 363/21.17, 363/21.18, 363/97, 363/56.09, 363/131
• US Class Current: 363/21.12
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• 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

In one embodiment, a method is provided for a power converter system. The method includes: automatically configuring the power converter system to operate with burst mode functionality if a control module of the power converter system is coupled in a first arrangement; and automatically configuring the power converter system to operate without burst mode functionality if the control module of the power converter system is coupled in a second arrangement.

Claims

1. A method for a power converter system capable of use in either a portable electronic device or a non-portable electronic device, the method comprising:

automatically configuring the power converter system to operate with burst mode functionality if a control module of the power converter system is coupled in a first arrangement for a portable electronic device; and

automatically configuring the power converter system to operate without burst mode functionality if the control module of the power converter system is coupled in a second arrangement for a non-portable electronic device;

wherein if the power converter system is configured to operate with burst mode functionality, the power converter system can alternatingly operate in burst mode or normal mode;

wherein if the power converter system is configured to operate without burst mode functionality, the power converter system cannot operate in burst mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically configuring is performed by the control module.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the control module is implemented in an integrated circuit device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein in the first arrangement a configuration terminal of the control module is coupled to a line voltage for the power converter system, and wherein in the second arrangement the configuration terminal of the control module is not coupled to the line voltage for the power converter system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein automatically configuring comprises comparing a voltage at the configuration terminal against at least one reference voltage.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising connecting the control module in either the first arrangement or the second arrangement.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically configuring occurs when the power converter system experiences an undervoltage lockout (UVLO) condition.

8. A control module for automatically configuring a power converter system to operate with burst mode functionality in a portable electronic device or without burst mode functionality in a non-portable electronic device, the control module comprising:

a configuration terminal; and

circuitry for automatically configuring the power converter system to operate with burst mode functionality if the configuration terminal is coupled in a first arrangement in the power converter system for a portable electronic device and for automatically configuring the power converter system to operate without burst mode functionality if the configuration terminal is coupled in a second arrangement in the power converter system for a non-portable electronic device;

wherein if the power converter system is configured to operate with burst mode functionality, the power converter system can alternatingly operate in burst mode or normal mode;

wherein if the power converter system is configured to operate without burst mode functionality, the power converter system cannot operate in burst mode.

9. The control module of claim 8 wherein the control module is implemented in an integrated circuit device.

10. The control module of claim 8 wherein the circuitry for automatically configuring comprises a burst mode rejection network coupled to the configuration terminal, the burst mode rejection network operable to compare a voltage at the configuration terminal against at least one reference voltage.

11. The control module of claim 8 wherein in the first arrangement the configuration terminal of the control module is connected to a line voltage for the power converter system, and wherein in the second arrangement the configuration terminal of the control module is not connected to the line voltage for the power converter system.

12. A power converter system capable of use in either a portable electronic device or a non-portable electronic device, the system comprising:

an input terminal for receiving an AC input voltage;

a rectifier coupled to the input terminal for rectifying the AC input voltage to provide a DC line voltage;

a transformer coupled to the rectifier, the transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding;

a switching device coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and operable to be turned on and off to cause current to flow through the primary winding;

an output terminal coupled to secondary winding of the transformer at which power is delivered to a load of the power converter system; and

a control module coupled to the switching device for controlling the switching device, the control module operable to automatically configure the power converter system to operate with burst mode functionality if the control module is connected in a first arrangement in the power converter system for a portable electronic device, the control module further operable to automatically configure the power converter system to operate without burst mode functionality if the control module is connected in a second arrangement in the power converter system for a non-portable electronic device;

wherein if the power converter system is configured to operate with burst mode functionality, the power converter system can alternatingly operate in burst mode or normal mode;

wherein if the power converter system is configured to operate without burst mode functionality, the power converter system cannot operate in burst mode.

13. The power converter system of claim 12 wherein the control module and the switching device are implemented in an integrated circuit device.

14. The power converter system of claim 12 wherein the control module comprises:

a configuration terminal; and

a burst mode rejection network coupled to the configuration terminal, the burst mode rejection network operable to compare a voltage at the configuration terminal against at least one reference voltage.

15. The power converter system of claim 12 wherein in the first arrangement a configuration terminal of the control module is coupled to the DC line voltage for the power converter system, and wherein in the second arrangement the configuration terminal of the control module is not coupled to the DC line voltage for the power converter system.

16. The power converter system of claim 12 wherein the switching device comprises a senseFET.