Power supply unit having a voltage converter

• US 8,159,092 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: EM Microelectronic - Marin SA (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Luthi, Daniel, Schmid, Steffen, Kern, Siegfried, Divoux, Jean-Noël
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US12/491,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20100008117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 700/296, 713/340, 713/300, 323/322, 323/323, 307/130
• US Class Current: 307/130
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/05 Capacitor coupled rectifiers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

The present invention concerns an electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having primary and secondary parts respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of this electrical installation or device. This power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on said primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on said primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of said primary part. The control circuit receives from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in said primary power path, said power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“Power-down” mode) when said first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied anymore. The power management unit is arranged such that, in said very low power mode, it can receive or generate at least a wake-up signal and set to ON said first control signal in response to said wake-up signal for supplying again said primary and secondary parts of the converter.

Claims

1. An electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having primary and secondary parts respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of this electrical installation or device, wherein said power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on said primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on said primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of said primary part with a High Voltage, this control circuit receiving from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in said primary power path, said power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“

Power-down”

mode) when said first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied with electrical energy anymore, said power management unit being arranged such that, in said very low power mode, the power management unit can receive or generate at least a wake-up signal and set to ON said first control signal in response to said wake-up signal for supplying electrical energy again to said primary and secondary parts of the converter, wherein

the power management unit comprises a power supply controller managing several functions of this power management unit, a first voltage reducer or a first output of a voltage reducer unit providing an Intermediate Voltage when receiving an Input Voltage and a second voltage reducer, following said first voltage reducer, or a second output of said voltage reducer unit providing a Low Voltage for supplying said power supply controller.

2. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said Intermediate Voltage is used to supply said control circuit of said voltage converter.

3. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said power management unit is associated with an external control interface and/or a sensor and/or a receiver and/or a switch arranged on said primary side for receiving at least a first external control defining said wake-up signal.

4. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said power management unit is associated with a time base, this time base being active in said very low power mode, said power management unit being arranged for measuring a determined time period after which said wake-up signal is generated.

5. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said power management unit is arranged for providing a second control signal to said control circuit of said primary part of said converter, this second control signal defining a PWM signal for regulating the electrical current flowing through said primary path in at least another functioning mode other than said very low power mode and thus regulating the electrical power supplied to said secondary side of the electrical installation or device.

6. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit further comprises a high voltage storage capacitor (HV Storage Capacitor) connected to a high voltage supply line receiving a rectified Input Voltage, and a low voltage storage capacitor (LV Storage Capacitor) connected to an intermediate voltage supply line to which the output of said first voltage reducer or the first output of said voltage reducer unit is connected, the low voltage storage capacitor being arranged so that the low voltage storage capacitor can supply said power supply controller through said second voltage reducer or said voltage reducer unit.

7. The electrical installation or device according to claim 6, wherein said power management unit further comprises a start-up supply circuit arranged between said high voltage supply line and said intermediate voltage supply line, this start-up supply circuit being arranged to supply said low voltage storage capacitor in a start-up mode.

8. The electrical installation or device according to claim 6, wherein said power management unit further comprises a discharge circuit for discharging said high voltage storage capacitor at least after a certain delay when said Input Voltage is switched OFF.

9. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein a bi-directional insulated interface is arranged between the primary side and the secondary side for data transfer between said power management unit and at least a main controller located on said secondary side.

10. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said Input Voltage is an alternative power signal from an electrical supply source and wherein said first voltage reducer defines a bridge rectifier together with a capacitive divider, this first voltage reducer having very low power consumption.

11. The electrical installation or device according to claim 10, wherein said first voltage reducer is formed by a circuit having only two double-diodes, one zener diode and entry resistor(s) and capacitor(s).

12. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said second voltage reducer has a very low power consumption and is formed by a circuit having a low current zener diode, a resistor arranged in series with the zener diode and, in parallel to these two elements, a transistor arranged in series with a capacitor providing the Low Voltage, the base of the transistor being connected between the resistor and the zener diode.

13. The electrical installation or device according to claim 10, wherein said second voltage reducer has a very low power consumption and is formed by a circuit having a low current zener diode a resistor arranged in series with the zener diode and, in parallel to these two elements, a transistor arranged in series with a capacitor providing the Low Voltage, the base of the transistor being connected between the resistor and the zener diode.

14. The electrical installation or device according to claim 12, wherein said second voltage reducer further comprises a very low quiescence current linear regulator.

15. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein a coil arranged into said primary part of said converter generates a feedback voltage signal, in parallel to the output voltage signal of said first voltage reducer, in order to supply the primary side of the power supply unit when said converter is powered.

16. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit associated with said converter comprises a switching circuit for turning OFF or ON the supply of this control circuit in order to respectively switch OFF or ON the energy supply in said primary part of the controller.

17. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein said power supply unit comprises an input circuit with a rectifier, said input circuit having at least a first capacitor on the AC side and at least a second capacitor on the DC side of the rectifier, said first capacitor having a maximum value selected such that no parallel resistor is needed within said input circuit.

18. The electrical installation or device according to claim 8, wherein said power supply unit comprises an input circuit with a rectifier, said input circuit having at least a first capacitor on the AC side and at least a second capacitor on the DC side of the rectifier, said first capacitor having a maximum value selected such that no parallel resistor is needed within said input circuit.

19. The electrical installation or device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical installation or device can keep the current state of this electrical installation or device in said power management unit at least for a predetermined period of time when the input supply is cut OFF without any additional battery or big capacitor (supercap/goldcap).

20. The electrical installation or device according to claim 6, wherein the electrical installation or device can keep the current state of this electrical installation or device in said power management unit at least for a predetermined period of time when the input supply is cut OFF without any additional battery or big capacitor (supercap/goldcap).

21. The electrical installation or device according to claim 8, wherein the electrical installation or device can keep the current state of this electrical installation or device in said power management unit at least for a predetermined period of time when the input supply is cut OFF without any additional battery or big capacitor (supercap/goldcap).

22. An electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having a primary part and secondary part respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of the electrical installation or device, wherein said power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on said primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on said primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of said primary part with a High Voltage, the control circuit receiving from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in said primary power path, said power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“

Power-down”

mode) when said first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied with electrical energy, said power management unit being arranged such that, in said very low power mode, the power management unit can receive or generate at least a wake-up signal and set to ON said first control signal in response to said wake-up signal for supplying electrical energy to said primary and secondary parts of the converter, wherein said power supply unit comprises an input circuit with a rectifier, said input circuit having at least a first capacitor on the AC side and at least a second capacitor on the DC side of the rectifier, said first capacitor having a maximum value selected such that no parallel resistor is needed within said input circuit.

23. The electrical installation or device according to claim 22, wherein said power supply unit further comprises a high voltage storage capacitor connected to a high voltage supply line receiving a rectified Input Voltage, and wherein said power management unit further comprises a discharge circuit for discharging said high voltage storage capacitor at least after a certain delay when said Input Voltage is switched OFF.

24. The electrical installation or device according to claim 22, wherein the power management unit comprises a power supply controller, a first voltage reducer or a first output of a voltage reducer unit providing an Intermediate Voltage when receiving an Input Voltage and a second voltage reducer, following said first voltage reducer, or a second output of said voltage reducer unit providing a Low Voltage for supplying said power supply controller.

25. The electrical installation or device according to claim 24, wherein said Input Voltage is an alternative power signal from an electrical supply source and wherein said first voltage reducer defines a bridge rectifier together with a capacitive divider, this first voltage reducer having very low power consumption.

26. An electrical installation or device equipped with a power supply unit comprising a voltage converter having primary and secondary parts respectively defining a primary side and a secondary side of this electrical installation or device, wherein said power supply unit comprises a power management unit arranged on said primary side, the primary part of the converter being associated with a control circuit also arranged on said primary side and controlling the electrical energy flowing in the primary power path of said primary part, the control circuit receiving from the power management unit at least a first control signal for switching OFF the electrical energy in said primary power path, said power supply unit entering a very low power mode (“

Power-down”

mode) when said first control signal is set to OFF so that the converter is not supplied with electrical energy, said power management unit being arranged such that, in said very low power mode, said power management unit can receive or generate at least a wake-up signal and set to ON said first control signal in response to said wake-up signal for supplying electrical energy to said primary and secondary parts of the converter, wherein said power management unit can keep the current state of this electrical installation or device at least for a predetermined period of time when the input supply is cut OFF without any additional battery or big capacitor (supercap/goldcap).

27. The electrical installation or device according to claim 26, wherein the power management unit comprises a power supply controller, a first voltage reducer or a first output of a voltage reducer unit providing an Intermediate Voltage when receiving an Input High Voltage and a second voltage reducer, following said first voltage reducer, or a second output of said voltage reducer unit providing a Low Voltage for supplying said power supply controller.

28. The electrical installation or device according to claim 27, wherein said power supply unit further comprises a high voltage storage capacitor (HV Storage Capacitor) connected to a high voltage supply line receiving a rectified Input Voltage, and a low voltage storage capacitor (LV Storage Capacitor) connected to an intermediate voltage supply line to which the output of said first voltage reducer or the first output of said voltage reducer unit is connected, the low voltage storage capacitor being arranged so that the low voltage storage capacitor can supply said power supply controller through said second voltage reducer or said voltage reducer unit.

29. The electrical installation or device according to claim 28, wherein said power management unit is arranged so that, during said predetermined period of time, the charge of said high voltage storage capacitor is used to supply said power supply controller by maintaining the voltage of said low voltage storage capacitor at a sufficient level.

30. The electrical installation or device according to claim 29, wherein said power management unit comprises a discharge circuit for discharging said high voltage storage capacitor after said predetermined period of time when said Input Voltage is switched OFF.