Method and apparatus for supplying power

• US 7,782,644 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2007
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovage LLC (Innovage)
• Original Assignee: Innovage LLC (Innovage)
• Inventors: Mojarradi, Mohammad M., Sadwick, Laurence P., Hwu, Ruey-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Behm; Harry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grubb; Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/681,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,270 Days
• Field of Search: 363/1, 363/2, 363/3, 363/8, 363/9, 363/10, 363/71, 363/149, 363/159, 363/163
• US Class Current: 363/163
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/12 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode

Abstract

A power supply includes a power source having at least one power source output, and a plurality of drivers connected to the at least one power source output. At least one of the plurality of drivers includes a bridge network having a first switch, a second switch and a bridge network output. The first switch is connected between the at least one power source output and the bridge network output. The second switch is connected between the bridge network output and a ground. The bridge network further includes at least one control input connected to the second switch to direct electrical current from the at least one power source output either substantially through the bridge network output or through the second switch to ground.

Claims

1. A power supply, comprising:

a power source having a first power source output and a second power source output, each 180 degrees out of phase from the other; and

a plurality of drivers connected to said first and second power source outputs, at least one of said plurality of drivers comprising;

a full bridge network comprising a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, a bridge network output and a second bridge network output, said first switch connected between said first power source output and said bridge network output, said second switch connected between said bridge network output and a voltage reference node, said bridge network further comprising at least one control input connected to said second switch, said third switch connected between said second power source output and said second bridge network output, said fourth switch connected between said second bridge network output and said voltage reference node, said bridge network further comprising at least one second control input connected to said fourth switch, said power source comprising an alternating current source, said at least one of said plurality of drivers being an envelope-driven driver wherein a waveform at said bridge network output tracks a waveform of said alternating current source.

2. A power supply comprising a power source and at least one bridge network driver, said at least one bridge network driver comprising:

a first transistor having an input connected to an output of said power source, an output connected to a driver output, and a control input connected to said power source output through a first resistor;

a diode connected at an anode to said first transistor output and at a cathode to said first transistor control input;

a second transistor connected at an input to said diode cathode, at an output to a voltage reference node, and to a control signal at a control input;

at least one stacked transistor connected between said first transistor and said power source output;

at least one second stacked transistor connected between said second transistor and said diode cathode; and

a gate resistor network connected in series between said power source output and said voltage reference node, said at least one stacked transistor and said at least one second stacked transistor having control inputs connected to nodes between resistors in said gate resistor network.

3. The power supply of claim 2, further comprising a negative voltage protection diode connected between each of said at least one second stacked transistor.

4. The power supply of claim 3, further comprising a voltage divider network connected to nodes adjacent said at least one negative voltage protection diodes.

5. A power supply comprising a power source and at least one bridge network driver, said at least one bridge network driver comprising:

a first transistor having an input connected to an output of said power source, an output connected to a driver output, and a control input connected to said power source output through a first resistor;

a diode connected at an anode to said first transistor output and at a cathode to said first transistor control input;

a second transistor connected at an input to said diode cathode, at an output to a voltage reference node, and to a control signal at a control input;

a current mirror transistor having an input connected to a reference current source, an output connected to said voltage reference node through a third resistor, and a control input connected to said second transistor control input and to said current mirror transistor input; and

a stealer transistor having an input connected to said second transistor control input, an output connected to said voltage reference node and a control input connected to a digital control signal.