Low frequency power amplifier employing high frequency magnetic components

• US 7,683,709 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Rynne, Ed F., Hammond, Russ, Pucillo, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOE, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US12/133,535
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 330/10, 330/146, 330/154, 330/165
• US Class Current: 330/10
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/273 the DC-isolation amplifier, e.g. chopper amplifier, modulation/demodulation amplifier, uses inductive isolation means, e.g. transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/537 A transformer being used as coupling element between two amplifying stages
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/38 DC amplifiers with modulator at input and demodulator at output; Modulators or demodulators specially adapted for use in such amplifiers switched capacitor amplifiers H03F3/005

Abstract

A low frequency amplifier uses a switched bridge circuit, providing a first frequency output. A transformer circuit receiving the first frequency output from the switched bridge circuit. Power from the transformer is output from a plurality of secondaries and the power from the secondaries is supplied to the corresponding output switching circuits and provided as switched outputs from the transformer circuit. The switched outputs from the transformer circuit are responsive to a transformer output from the transformer at the first frequency, and switch the transformer outputs in a timed sequence to provide a combined second frequency output. The second frequency output has a lower frequency than the transformer outputs.

Claims

1. A low frequency amplifier comprising:

a switched bridge circuit, providing a first frequency output;

a transformer circuit receiving the first frequency output from the switched bridge circuit;

a switched output circuit operatively connected to the transformer circuit, responsive to a transformer output from the transformer at said first frequency, the switched output circuit switched to provide a first sense output and a second sense output in a timed sequence to provide a second frequency output, the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output;

said switched output circuit provided as a first switched output circuit;

at least one additional switched output circuit operatively connected to an additional transformer output and providing an additional second frequency output synchronously with the second frequency output from the first switched output circuit; and

the first switched output and the additional switched output having serially connected output connections so as to provide the second frequency output from the first switched output and the additional second frequency output in series.

2. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising an isolation element providing isolation between the first switched output and the additional switched output, the isolation sufficient to allow operation of the first switched output and the additional switched output at circuit parameters corresponding to the proportion of their respective output voltages.

3. The amplifier of claim 2, further comprising a common control circuit for the first switched output and the additional switched output, providing substantially synchronous operation of the first switched output and the additional switched output.

4. The amplifier of claim 3, further comprising:

a clocked control circuit, responsive to an input frequency and a counter input, and providing an output at the second frequency synchronized with an input frequency.

5. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising:

the switched output from the transformer circuit including a first circuit module comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices providing opposite polarity outputs from at least one secondary winding of the transformer circuit;

the switched output from the transformer circuit including at least one additional circuit module comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices providing opposite polarity outputs from at least one additional secondary winding of the transformer circuit; and

the outputs of the circuit modules provided in a series connection.

6. The amplifier of claim 1, wherein the switched bridge circuit provides a pulsed output such that the first frequency output provides operation of the transformer so as to avoid the use of low frequency magnetics inherent in operation at the second frequency output.

7. The amplifier of claim 1 wherein:

the transformer operates at the first frequency; and

the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output provides operation of the transformer at a frequency higher than the lower frequency as provided by the first frequency output.

8. The amplifier of claim 1 wherein:

the transformer operates at the first frequency; and

the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output provides operation of the transformer at a frequency higher than the lower frequency as provided by the first frequency output, the lower frequency output effected by processing of higher frequency pulses through switching components of the amplifier.

9. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising the switched bridge circuit receiving an input signal from a DC voltage source.

10. The amplifier of claim 1, further comprising:

a clocked control circuit, responsive to an input frequency and a counter input, and providing an output at the second frequency synchronized with an input frequency.

11. A method of providing a low frequency amplifier output, through the use of higher frequency magnetics, the method comprising:

using a switching circuit to provide a first frequency output at the higher frequency;

providing the first frequency output to a transformer circuit;

providing a transformer output from the transformer circuit, responsive to a transformer output from the transformer at said first frequency, and switching the transformer output to provide a first sense output and a second sense output in a timed sequence to provide a second frequency output, the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output;

said switched output circuit provided as a first switched output;

providing at least one additional transformer output and switching the additional transformer output synchronously with the second frequency output as an additional switched output; and

providing the first switched output and the additional switched output in series.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing electrical isolation between the first switched output and the additional switched output sufficient to allow operation of the first switched output and the additional switched output at circuit parameters corresponding to the proportion of their respective output voltages.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the switched output from the transformer circuit to a plurality of circuit modules, including a first circuit module comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices providing opposite polarity outputs from at least one secondary winding of the transformer circuit, and at least one additional circuit module comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices providing opposite polarity outputs from at least one additional secondary winding of the transformer circuit; and

providing the outputs of the circuit modules provided in a series connection.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a switched bridge circuit to provide the first frequency output and providing the first frequency output as a pulsed output such that the first frequency output provides operation of the transformer so as to avoid the use of low frequency magnetics inherent in operation at the second frequency output.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing the first frequency output to the transformer at the first frequency so as to avoid the use of low frequency magnetics inherent in operation at the second frequency output, as a result of the transformer operating at the first frequency; and

generating the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a switched bridge circuit receiving an input signal from a DC voltage source as the switching circuit to provide a first frequency output at the higher frequency.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a clocked control circuit, responsive to an input frequency and a counter input, and providing an output at the second frequency synchronized with an input frequency.

18. Apparatus for providing a low frequency amplifier output, through the use of higher frequency magnetics, comprising:

circuit switching means, for providing a first frequency output at the higher frequency;

means for providing the first frequency output to a transformer circuit;

a transformer output circuit providing a transformer output from the transformer circuit, responsive to a transformer output from the transformer at said first frequency, and switching the transformer output to provide a first sense output and a second sense output in a timed sequence to provide a second frequency output, the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output;

said transformer output circuit provided as a first transformer output circuit;

at least one additional transformer output circuit responsive to an additional transformer output;

means to switch the additional transformer output circuit synchronously with the first transformer output circuit; and

means for providing the outputs from the first transformer output circuit and the second transformer output circuit in series.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for providing electrical isolation between the first transformer output circuit and the second transformer output circuit sufficient to allow operation of the first transformer output circuit and the second transformer output circuit at circuit parameters corresponding to a proportion of their respective output voltages.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

the transformer output circuit including switched output means receiving power from the transformer circuit and comprising a plurality of circuit modules, including a first circuit module comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices providing opposite polarity outputs from at least one secondary winding of the transformer circuit, and at least one additional circuit module comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices providing opposite polarity outputs from at least one additional secondary winding of the transformer circuit; and

means for providing the outputs of the circuit modules provided in a series connection.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

switched bridge circuit means providing the first frequency output; and

control means providing the first frequency output as a pulsed output such that the first frequency output provides operation of the transformer so as to avoid the use of low frequency magnetics inherent in operation at the second frequency output.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

first frequency output means providing an the first frequency output to the transformer at the first frequency so as to avoid the use of low frequency magnetics inherent in operation at the second frequency output, as a result of the transformer operating at the first frequency; and

means for generating the second frequency output having a lower frequency than the first frequency output.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

the first frequency output means using a switched bridge circuit receiving an input signal from a DC voltage source as the switching circuit to provide a first frequency output at the higher frequency.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

clocked control circuit means, responsive to an input frequency and a counter input, and providing the output at the second frequency synchronized with an input frequency.