Multiple driver power supply

• US 8,009,452 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2010
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovage LLC (Innovage)
• Original Assignee: Innovage LLC (Innovage)
• Inventors: Sadwick, Laurence P., Mojarradi, Mohammad M., Hwu, Ruey-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Behm; Harry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grubb; Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/717,350
• Time in Patent Office: 544 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: 363/149
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• 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. The bridge network is adapted to change a state of the first switch based on a state of the second switch.

Claims

1. A power supply, comprising:

a power source having at least one power source output; and

a plurality of drivers connected to said at least one power source output, at least one of said plurality of drivers comprising;

a bridge network comprising a first switch, a second switch and a bridge network output, said first switch connected between said at least one 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, wherein said bridge network is adapted to change a state of the first switch based on a state of the second switch, said at least one power source output of the power source comprising an envelope waveform output, 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 at said envelope waveform output.

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; and

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, wherein the diode is forward biased when the second transistor is on, turning off the first transistor, and wherein the diode is reversed biased when the second transistor is off, turning on the first transistor.

3. The power supply of claim 2, said voltage reference node comprising a ground.

4. The power supply of claim 2, said power source comprising:

an oscillator;

a power source transistor having a control input connected to an output of said oscillator;

a transformer having a first winding connected between a power input and a voltage reference node, said power source transistor being connected in series between said power input and said voltage reference node with said first winding, said transformer having a second winding connected to said power source output.

5. The power supply of claim 4, said oscillator being selected from the group consisting of a 555 timer, a crystal, a phase locked loop, a logic oscillator, an operational amplifier oscillator, a Wein bridge, and a bridge oscillator.

6. The power supply of claim 4, said power source transistor being connected between said first winding and said power input to pull said first winding up to a potential of said power input, said power source further comprising a second power source transistor connected between said voltage reference node and a node between said first winding and said power source transistor to pull said first winding down to a potential of said voltage reference node, said power source further comprising an inverter having an input connected to said oscillator output and an output connected to said power source transistor control input and to a control input of said second power source transistor so that said power source transistor control input is connected to said oscillator output through said inverter.

7. The power supply of claim 4, said power source further comprising a full bridge rectifier connected across output terminals of said second winding.

8. The power supply of claim 4, said power source further comprising a direct current voltage supply connected in series with said second winding.

9. The power supply of claim 4, said power source further comprising a pulse width modulator to vary a duty cycle of said power source output.

10. The power supply of claim 4, said power source further comprising at least one diode having an anode connected to said second winding and a cathode connected to said power source output.

11. The power supply of claim 2, said diode comprising a Zener diode having a reverse breakdown voltage larger than the threshold of the first transistor.

12. The power supply of claim 2, said diode comprising a diode-connected transistor.

13. The power supply of claim 2, said at least one bridge network driver further comprising a second resistor connected between said second transistor output and said voltage reference node.

14. The power supply of claim 13, further comprising a current monitor connected to a node between said second transistor and said second resistor.

15. The power supply of claim 2, further comprising a voltage divider connected between said driver output and said voltage reference node and a current monitor connected to a midpoint in said voltage divider.

16. The power supply of claim 2, further comprising a second driver output and a current monitor connected between said second driver output and said voltage reference node, wherein a load may be connected between said driver output and said second driver output.

17. The power supply of claim 2, further comprising 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 minor transistor input.

18. The power supply of claim 2, wherein said bridge network driver comprises a full bridge network, said bridge network driver having a first half and a second half, said second half being a mirror image of said first half, said first half comprising at least said first and second transistors, said diode and said first resistor.

19. The power supply of claim 2, further comprising a second diode having an anode connected to a node between said first diode cathode, said first transistor control input and said first resistor, said second diode having a cathode connected to said second transistor input.