Step-up converter systems and methods

• US 8,098,055 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Avrutsky, Mordechay, Hadar, Ron, Arditi, Shmuel, Avrutsky, Idan
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Nguyen
• Application Number:
  US12/202,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20100027297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/271, 323/282, 323/283, 363/21.12, 363/65, 363/67, 363/68, 363/69, 363/70, 363/71
• US Class Current: 323/222
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0064 Magnetic structures combining different functions, e.g. storage, filtering or transformation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33515 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

Methods and systems with a step-up converter are provided based on a boost converter. In one aspect, a step-up converter includes: a boost converter having a first inductor; a second inductor paired on a core with the first inductor; and a rectifier circuit coupled with the second inductor to generate a direct current output.

Claims

1. A step-up converter, comprising:

a boost converter having a first inductor;

a second inductor paired on a core with the first inductor; and

a half bridge rectifier circuit coupled with the second inductor to generate a direct current output across an output capacitor;

wherein the half bridge rectifier circuit comprises;

a first diode and a first capacitor connected to the second inductor to form a first loop to allow electric current to go through the inductor in a first direction; and

a second diode and a second capacitor connected to the second inductor to form a second loop to allow electric current to go through the inductor in a second direction, wherein the first and second capacitors are series connected with the output capacitor and the direct current output is taken across the series connected first, second and output capacitors.

2. The step-up converter of claim 1, wherein the boost converter provides a first portion of a voltage output of the step-up converter;

and the rectifier circuit provides a second portion of the voltage output of the step-up converter.

3. The step-up converter of claim 2, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the voltage output of the step-up converter are proportional to a ratio between the first inductor and the second inductor.

4. The step-up converter of claim 1, wherein the boost converter further comprises a transistor to implement a switch in the boost converter, the voltage output of the step-up converter being higher than 100 volts, and the transistor having a breakdown voltage lower than 100 volts.

5. The step-up converter of claim 4, wherein the breakdown voltage of the transistor is lower than 75 volts.

6. The step-up converter of claim 4, wherein resistance between drain/source connection in the transistor is less than ten milliohms when the transistor is in a saturated on mode.

7. The step-up converter of claim 4, wherein an output voltage of the boost converter is no more than 50 volts.

8. The step-up converter of claim 1, wherein the boost converter further comprises a transistor to implement a switch in the boost converter and a microprocessor coupled to the transistor to control the switch.

9. The step-up converter of claim 8, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the switch to adjust an output voltage of the step-up converter.

10. The step-up converter of claim 1, wherein input to output voltage ratio of the step-up converter is higher than 1:

8.

11. A solar panel, comprising:

at least one solar cell to generate a direct current input;

a boost converter having a first inductor, the boost converter to receive the direct current input from the at least one solar cell and to generate a first portion of a direct current output;

a second inductor paired on a core with the first inductor; and

a rectifier circuit coupled with the second inductor to generate a second portion of the direct current output, wherein the rectifier circuit comprises;

a first diode and a first capacitor connected to the second inductor to form a first loop to allow electric current to go through the inductor in a first direction; and

a second diode and a second capacitor connected to the second inductor to form a second loop to allow electric current to go through the inductor in a second direction, wherein the first and second capacitors are series connected with the first portion of the direct current output; and

wherein the first and second portions are series connected and the direct current output is taken across the series connected first and second portions together.

12. The solar panel of claim 11, wherein the direct current output has a voltage no less than 200 volts.

13. The solar panel of claim 12, wherein the boost converter operates under 100 volts.

14. An energy system, comprising:

a plurality of direct current energy sources;

a voltage bus; and

at least one step-up converter coupled between the direct current energy sources and the voltage bus, the step-up converter comprising a boost converter having a first inductor, a second inductor paired on a core with the first inductor, and a half bridge rectifier circuit coupled with the second inductor, to generate a direct current output across an output capacitor;

wherein the half bridge rectifier circuit comprises;

a first diode and a first capacitor connected to the second inductor to form a first loop to allow electric current to go through the inductor in a first direction; and

a second diode and a second capacitor connected to the second inductor to form a second loop to allow electric current to go through the inductor in a second direction, wherein the first and second capacitors are series connected with the output capacitor;

wherein the step-up converter is coupled to the voltage bus across the series connected first, second and output capacitors.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the voltage bus has a voltage equal to or above 200 volts;

and the boost converter operates under 50 volts.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the direct current energy sources comprise solar panels.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the boost converter includes a trench transistor having less than ten milliohms in resistance between drain and source when the transistor is on.