Multiple driver power supply

• US 8,446,741 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• 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., Hwu, Ruey-Jen, Mojarradi, Mohammad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Behm, Harry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grubb, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US13/190,261
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 363/1, 363/2, 363/3, 363/8, 363/9, 363/10, 363/71, 363/149, 363/159, 363/163, 363/148, 363/157, 363/164, 363/165
• US Class Current: 363/10
• 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 bridge network comprising an upper switch, a lower switch and a control input, the upper switch and the lower switch being connected in series between a power input and a ground, the control input being connected to the lower switch, the upper switch being controlled by an output of the lower switch;

a current mirror connected to the control input and to a reference current source, wherein an electrical current through the lower switch is adapted to be controlled by a reference current from the reference current source; and

a stealer switch connected between the control input and the ground.

2. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising a pulse width modulated control signal input connected to the stealer switch.

3. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising a power source operable to supply an envelope waveform to the upper switch.

4. The power supply of claim 3, wherein an output of the bridge network at an output of the upper switch is adapted to track the envelope waveform from the power source.

5. The power supply of claim 1, further comprising a pullup resistor connected to an upper switch control input.

6. The power supply of claim 5, further comprising a Zener diode connected between the upper switch and the lower switch, wherein the output of the lower switch is connected to the upper switch control input.

7. A method of manufacturing a bridge network, comprising:

connecting a first switch and a second switch in series between a power input and a ground;

connecting a bridge network control input to a second switch control input;

connecting a pullup resistor to a first switch control input;

connecting a Zener diode between the first switch and the second switch;

connecting a second switch output to the first switch control input; and

connecting a diode connected transistor to the second switch control input, wherein the diode connected transistor and the second switch form a current mirror.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising connecting a bridge network output to a first switch output.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first switch comprises an upper switch and the second switch comprises a lower switch.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising connecting a current reference source to an input of the diode connected transistor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising connecting a current stealer switch between the second switch control input and a ground.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting a pulse width modulated control signal input to a current stealer switch control input.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising connecting an envelope waveform generator to the power input.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting an amplifier between the envelope waveform generator and the power input.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the first switch and the second switch each comprise stacked transistors.

16. An apparatus for supplying power, comprising:

a bridge network comprising an upper switch, a lower switch and a control input, the upper switch and the lower switch being connected in series between a power input and a ground, the control input being connected to the lower switch, the upper switch being controlled by an output of the lower switch;

a current mirror connected to the control input and to a reference current source, wherein an electrical current through the lower switch is adapted to be controlled by a reference current from the reference current source;

a stealer switch connected between the control input and the ground;

a pulse width modulated control signal input connected to the stealer switch;

a power source connected to the power input operable to supply an envelope waveform to the upper switch, wherein an output of the bridge network at an output of the upper switch is adapted to track the envelope waveform from the power source;

a pullup resistor connected to an upper switch control input; and

a Zener diode connected between the upper switch and the lower switch, wherein the output of the lower switch is connected to the upper switch control input.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the upper switch is connected to the power input and the lower switch is connected to the ground.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the upper switch is at a higher voltage than the lower switch.

19. A power supply, comprising:

a bridge network comprising an upper switch, a lower switch, a Zener diode, a pullup resistor and a bridge network control input, the upper switch, the Zener diode and the lower switch being connected in series between a power input and a ground, the bridge network control input being connected to a control input of the lower switch, a control input of the upper switch being connected directly to an output of the lower switch, and the pullup resistor being connected between the power input and the control input of the upper switch.