Universal AC adaptor
First Claim
1. A method of converting power from an AC source at a source voltage for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range, comprising:
- providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage, wherein the providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation further comprises providing an integrated adaptive converter array having a first input cell and a second input cell, each input cell having a respective number, Px, of turns, an output cell having a respective number, Sx, of turns, magnetic coupling between the turns to form a transformer common to the first and second input cells and the output cell;
configuring the input cells in a parallel connection for operation at the low line voltage and in a series connection for operation at the high line voltage; and
providing first stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Power from an AC source at a source voltage is converted for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range. DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation are provided in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage. First stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage is provided in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module.
55 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A method of converting power from an AC source at a source voltage for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range, comprising:
-
providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage, wherein the providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation further comprises providing an integrated adaptive converter array having a first input cell and a second input cell, each input cell having a respective number, Px, of turns, an output cell having a respective number, Sx, of turns, magnetic coupling between the turns to form a transformer common to the first and second input cells and the output cell; configuring the input cells in a parallel connection for operation at the low line voltage and in a series connection for operation at the high line voltage; and providing first stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of converting power from an AC source at a source voltage for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range, comprising:
-
providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage; and providing first stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module; wherein the providing DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation further comprises; providing an array of two or more VTMs, each VTM having an input, an output, and a substantially fixed voltage transformation ratio, K=Vout/Vin, over the normal operating range, where Vin is the voltage across the respective VTM input and Vout is the voltage across the respective VTM output, and providing isolation between its input and its output; and configuring the inputs of the VTMs in a parallel connection for operation at the low line voltage and in a series connection for operation at the high line voltage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus comprising:
-
an AC adapter module for converting power from an AC source at a source voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range, and delivering rectified power to circuitry downstream from the AC adapter module, the AC source having a characteristic line frequency and characteristic line period; the AC adapter module having an input for receiving power from the AC source, a first power conversion stage, and an output for delivering the rectified power to the downstream circuitry; the first power conversion stage including (a) a transformer having at least one primary and at least one secondary winding, (b) a primary switching circuit connected to drive the at least one primary winding with power received from the input, (c) a secondary rectifier circuit connected to receive power from the at least one secondary and deliver rectified power to the output, and (d) a controller for operating the primary switching circuit in a series of converter operating cycles having a converter operating period that is much shorter that the characteristic line period; the first power conversion stage being configured to convert power at a substantially fixed voltage-transformation ratio, K=Vout/Vin, over the normal operating range, where Vin is the voltage across the input and Vout is the voltage across the output, and provide galvanic isolation between its input and its output; the AC adapter providing step-down voltage transformation essentially without voltage regulation and delivering power having voltage characteristics that are rectified and un-regulated at the output. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of converting power from an AC source at a source voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range, the AC source having a characteristic line frequency and characteristic line period, the method comprising:
-
providing a self-contained AC adapter having an input for receiving power from the AC source and an output for delivering power at a galvanically-isolated and unregulated voltage to circuitry external to the AC adapter; performing a first power conversion in the AC adapter using a primary switching circuit to drive a transformer primary winding using power received from the input; operating the primary switching circuit in a series of converter operating cycles having a converter operating period that is much shorter that the characteristic line period; performing the first power conversion at a substantially fixed voltage-transformation ratio, K=Vout/Vin, over the normal operating range, where Vin is the voltage across the input and Vout is the voltage across the output; using the transformer to provide galvanic isolation between its input and its output; using a secondary rectifier circuit to rectify power from a secondary winding of the transformer and deliver unregulated power to the output. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification