High efficiency DC-DC converter for reduced switching loss

• US 8,059,430 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanken Electric Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Sanken Electric Company Limited
• Inventors: Osaka, Shohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASH, GARY A
• Application Number:
  US12/393,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 363 20- 2103, 323/270, 323/271
• US Class Current: 363/21.02
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• 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

Abstract

A DC-DC converter includes: a first series circuit in which a resonance reactor, a primary winding of a transformer, and a switching element are connected in series, the first series circuit being connected to both ends of a direct current power supply; a second series circuit in which a first rectifier, a current resonance capacitor, and a secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series, the second series circuit being connected to both ends of the direct current power supply; a rectifying/smoothing circuit having a second rectifier and a smoothing capacitor and connected to both ends of a series circuit of the current resonance capacitor and the secondary winding of the transformer; an output voltage detection circuit that detects an output voltage of the rectifying/smoothing circuit; and a control circuit that turns on and off the switching element based on an output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit.

Claims

1. A DC-DC converter, comprising:

a first series circuit in which a resonance reactor, a primary winding of a transformer, and a switching element are connected in series, the first series circuit being connected to both ends of a direct current power supply;

a second series circuit in which a first rectifier, a current resonance capacitor, and a secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series, the second series circuit being connected to both ends of the direct current power supply;

a rectifying/smoothing circuit having a second rectifier and a smoothing capacitor and connected to both ends of a series circuit of the current resonance capacitor and the secondary winding of the transformer;

an output voltage detection circuit for detecting an output voltage of the rectifying/smoothing circuit; and

a control circuit that turns on and off the switching element based on an output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit.

2. The DC-DC converter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third rectifier connected between a node between the primary winding of the transformer and the switching element and a node between the second rectifier and the smoothing capacitor.

3. The DC-DC converter according to claim 1,

wherein the control circuit adjusts an ON duty of the switching element so that an error between the output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit and a reference voltage can become small, and when the ON duty becomes a predetermined value, fixes an ON time of the switching element, and adjusts an OFF time thereof.

4. The DC-DC converter according to claim 3,

wherein the control circuit sets the ON time of the switching element at a longer time than a half of a time period of a resonant current generated by the resonance reactor and the current resonance capacitor.

5. The DC-DC converter according to claim 1,

wherein the control circuit fixes an ON time of the switching element and adjust an OFF time thereof so that an error between the output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit and a reference voltage can become small, and when an operation frequency of the switching element becomes a fixed value or more or the fixed value or less, sets the operation frequency at a fixed value, and controls an ON duty of the switching element.

6. The DC-DC converter according to claim 5,

wherein the control circuit sets the ON time of the switching element at a longer time than a half of a time period of a resonant current generated by the resonance reactor and the current resonance capacitor.

7. The DC-DC converter according to claim 1,

wherein the resonance reactor is a leakage inductance between the primary winding and the secondary winding of the transformer.

8. A DC-DC converter, comprising:

a first series circuit in which a primary winding of a transformer and a switching element are connected in series, the first series circuit being connected to both ends of a direct current power supply;

a second series circuit in which a first rectifier, a current resonance capacitor, a resonance reactor, and a secondary winding of the transformer are connected in series, the second series circuit being connected to both ends of the direct current power supply;

a rectifying/smoothing circuit having a second rectifier and a smoothing capacitor and connected to both ends of a series circuit of the current resonance capacitor, the resonance reactor, and the secondary winding of the transformer;

an output voltage detection circuit for detecting an output voltage of the rectifying/smoothing circuit; and

a control circuit that turns on and off the switching element based on an output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit.

9. The DC-DC converter according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third rectifier connected between a node between the primary winding of the transformer and the switching element and a node between the second rectifier and the smoothing capacitor.

10. The DC-DC converter according to claim 8,

wherein the control circuit adjusts an ON duty of the switching element so that an error between the output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit and a reference voltage can become small, and when the ON duty becomes a predetermined value, fixes an ON time of the switching element, and adjusts an OFF time thereof.

11. The DC-DC converter according to claim 10,

wherein the control circuit sets the ON time of the switching element at a longer time than a half of a time period of a resonant current generated by the resonance reactor and the current resonance capacitor.

12. The DC-DC converter according to claim 8,

wherein the control circuit fixes an ON time of the switching element and adjust an OFF time thereof so that an error between the output voltage signal from the output voltage detection circuit and a reference voltage can become small, and when an operation frequency of the switching element becomes a fixed value or more or the fixed value or less, sets the operation frequency at a fixed value, and controls an ON duty of the switching element.

13. The DC-DC converter according to claim 12,

wherein the control circuit sets the ON time of the switching element at a longer time than a half of a time period of a resonant current generated by the resonance reactor and the current resonance capacitor.

14. The DC-DC converter according to claim 8,

wherein the resonance reactor is a leakage inductance between the primary winding and the secondary winding of the transformer.