Power factor correction boost converter with continuous, discontinuous, or critical mode selection

• US 7,733,678 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Notohamiprodjo, Hubertus, Lin, Jianqing
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett; Jeffrey L
• Application Number:
  US11/849,158
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/283, 323/901, 363/49, 363/89
• US Class Current: 363/89
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4225 using a non-isolated boost converter
• 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 323/901 Starting circuits

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for controlling power factor correction in mixed operation modes, a frequency of the input voltage is obtained by detecting the zero crossing points of the input voltage. A peak of the input voltage is obtained by detecting input voltage with 90 degree phase. Thus, the present invention predicts the input voltage by its frequency and peak and the characteristic of the sine wave. A digital signal processor computes the duty and frequency of a boost switch, switching the operation mode of the boost converter among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode according to input voltage or the load. According to another aspect, the operation is switched to critical mode from the average current mode when a zero current is detected before the charging and recharging cycle of the boost switch is finished. Overcurrent protection may be achieved by controlling current in response to detected voltage to provide a substantially constant power level. The overcurrent protection may be adaptive in nature.

Claims

1. A boost converter for power factor correction, comprising:

a boost inductor;

a boost switch, closed for charging the boost inductor and opened for discharging the boost inductor; and

a controller for controlling the boost switch to dynamically change an operation mode of the boost converter to transition between two modes among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode;

wherein the controller responds to voltage and temperature conditions at startup to control the boost switch once an input voltage reaches a first predetermined level.

2. The boost converter according to claim 1, wherein the controller enters an undervoltage lockout mode before the input voltage reaches a second predetermined level.

3. The boost converter according to claim 2, wherein the controller enters a sleep mode once said input voltage reaches said second predetermined level, but before said input voltage reaches a third predetermined level.

4. The boost converter according to claim 3, wherein the controller returns to said sleep mode in response to an overtemperature condition.

5. The boost converter according to claim 2, wherein said second predetermined level is lower than said first predetermined level.

6. The boost converter according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined level is adaptively controlled.

7. The boost converter according to claim 6, wherein an overcurrent condition of said boost converter is controlled by setting said first predetermined level so that a power level of said boost converter is substantially constant.

8. A method for controlling a boost converter for power factor correction, the boost converter comprising a boost inductor, a boost switch, and a controller, the method comprising:

dynamically changing operation mode of the boost converter to transition between two modes among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode; and

responsive to voltage and temperature conditions at startup, controlling the boost switch once an input voltage reaches a first predetermined level.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising entering an undervoltage lockout mode before the input voltage reaches a second predetermined level.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising entering a sleep mode once said input voltage reaches said second predetermined level, but before said input voltage reaches a third predetermined level.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising returning the controller to said sleep mode in response to an overtemperature condition.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said second predetermined level is lower than said first predetermined level.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising adaptively controlling said first predetermined level.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising controlling an overcurrent condition of said boost converter by setting said first predetermined level so that a power level of said boost converter is substantially constant.

15. A controller for controlling a boost switch of a power factor correction boost converter, said controller comprising:

a processor communicating with the boost switch, and responsive to an input voltage and an output voltage of the power factor correction boost converter to calculate a turn on and turn off time of the boost switch to dynamically change operation mode of the power factor correction boost converter to transition between two modes among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode;

wherein the controller responds to voltage and temperature conditions at startup to control the boost switch once an input voltage reaches a first predetermined level.

16. The controller according to claim 15, wherein the controller enters an undervoltage lockout mode before the input voltage reaches a second predetermined level.

17. The controller according to claim 16, wherein the controller enters a sleep mode once said input voltage reaches said second predetermined level, but before said input voltage reaches a third predetermined level.

18. The controller according to claim 17, wherein the controller returns to said sleep mode in response to an overtemperature condition.

19. The controller according to claim 16, wherein said second predetermined level is lower than said first predetermined level.

20. The controller according to claim 15, wherein said first predetermined level is adaptively controlled.

21. The controller according to claim 20, wherein an overcurrent condition of said boost converter is controlled by setting said first predetermined level so that a power level of said boost converter is substantially constant.

22. A boost converter for power factor correction, comprising:

boost inductor means;

boost switch means, closed for charging the boost inductor and opened for discharging the boost inductor; and

controller means for controlling the boost switch to dynamically change an operation mode of the boost converter to transition between two modes among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode;

wherein the controller responds to voltage and temperature conditions at startup to control the boost switch means once an input voltage reaches a first predetermined level.

23. A controller for controlling a boost switch of a power factor correction boost converter, said controller comprising:

processor means communicating with the boost switch, and responsive to an input voltage and an output voltage of the power factor correction boost converter to calculate a turn on and turn off time of the boost switch to dynamically change operation mode of the power factor correction boost converter to transition between two modes among continuous mode, critical mode and discontinuous mode;

wherein the controller responds to voltage and temperature conditions at startup to control the boost switch once an input voltage reaches a first predetermined level.