Universal AC adaptor

• US 7,940,540 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vicor Corporation
• Original Assignee: VLT Incorporated (Vicor Corporation)
• Inventors: Vinciarelli, Patrizio
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US12/472,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 363/65, 363 67- 70, 363/84, 363/89, 363/125, 363/127, 323/265, 323/282, 307/82, 307/83, 307 85- 87, 307/113, 307/116, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/131
• US Class Current: 363/125
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0074 Plural converter units whose inputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0096 Means for increasing hold-up time, i.e. the duration of time that a converter's output will remain within regulated limits following a loss of input power
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/14 Arrangements for reducing ripples from dc input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/01 Resonant DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1584 with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33571 Half-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33573 Full-bridge at primary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/00 Conversion of ac power input into dc power output; Conversion of dc power input into ac power output

Abstract

A method and apparatus for adaptively configuring an array of voltage transformation modules is disclosed. The aggregate voltage transformation ratio of the adaptive array is adjusted to digitally regulate the output voltage for a wide range of input voltages. An integrated adaptive array having a plurality of input cells, a plurality of output cells, or a plurality of both is also disclosed. The input and output cells may be adaptively configured to provide an adjustable transformer turns ratio for the adaptive array or in the case of an integrated VTM, an adjustable voltage transformation ratio for the integrated VTM. A controller is used to configure the cells and provide digital regulation of the output. A converter having input cells configured as a complementary pair, which are switched out of phase, reduces common mode current and noise. Series connected input cells are used for reducing primary switch voltage ratings in a converter and enabling increased operating frequency or efficiency.

Claims

1. A method of converting power from an AC source for delivery to a system including a load, the method comprising:

providing an AC adapter module (“

AAM”

) having input terminals for receiving power from the source, output terminals for delivering power at an UAAM voltage, and DC-DC voltage transformation (“

VT”

) circuitry, the AAM being a self-contained assembly;

providing power regulation (“

PR”

) circuitry having an input for receiving power from the VT circuitry and an output for delivering power to the load at a regulated DC voltage, the PR circuitry providing output regulation, the VT circuitry having an input connected to the input terminals and an output connected to the output terminals and providing voltage transformation and isolation; and

providing an energy storage component connected on the output side of the AAM, the energy storage component being external to the AAM.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the VT circuitry further comprises an integrated adaptive converter array having a first input cell and a second input cell, each input cell having a respective number, P_x, of turns, an output cell having a respective number, S_x, of turns, magnetic coupling between the turns to form a transformer common to the first and second input cells and the output cell;

and control circuitry for configuring the input cells in a parallel connection for operation at a low line voltage and in a series connection for operation at a high line voltage.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the VT circuitry further comprises an array of two or more VTMs, each VTM having an input, an output, and a substantially fixed voltage transformation ratio, K=V_out/N_in, over the normal operating range, where V_in is the voltage across the respective VTM input and V_out is the voltage across the respective VTM output, and providing isolation between its input and its output;

and control circuitry for configuring the VTMs in a parallel connection for operation at a low line voltage and in a series connection for operation at a high line voltage.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy storage comprises a battery and further comprising providing charge circuitry for charging the battery.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the PR circuitry further comprises a buck-boost converter with PFC circuitry.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the PR circuitry further comprises power factor correction circuitry, and the energy storage component comprises a capacitor connected to PR output.

7. A method of converting power from an AC source at a source voltage for delivery to a plurality of loads, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range, comprising:

providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a converter array (CA) input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage; and

providing power regulation in a plurality of second power conversion stages each having a power regulation (PR) input for receiving power from the CA output of the first stage, regulation circuitry, and a PR output for delivering power to a respective one of the plurality of loads, the regulation circuitry being adapted to maintain the load voltage within a regulation range while the PR input voltage remains within a normal operating range.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

a first one of the plurality of second power conversion stages delivers a first load voltage to a first one of the plurality of loads;

a second one of the plurality of second power conversion stages delivers a second load voltage to a second one of the plurality of loads; and

the first load voltage is different from the second load voltage.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of second power conversion stages further comprises power factor correction.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first one of the plurality of loads comprises a first device and a second one of the plurality of loads comprises a second device, and the first device is separate from the second device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first and second devices comprises mobile devices.