Magnetic flux conversion device

• US 9,042,136 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engen Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Engen Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Osgood, George N., Gassaway, Lee V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSARIO BENITEZ, GUSTAVO A
• Application Number:
  US13/365,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 323/247, 323/293, 323/254, 323/328, 363 52- 54, 363/74, 363/75, 363/78, 363/81, 363/82, 363/85, 363/89, 363/90, 363/125
• US Class Current: 363/52
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/155 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

Embodiments provide a magnetic flux conversion device (MFCD) that may produce a regulated output signal with a target value (e.g., target voltage and/or target current) from a source signal on a power line. The MFCD may include a secondary stage configured to be inductively coupled with the power line. The source signal may cause a secondary electrical signal to flow in the secondary stage. A regulator module may be coupled to the secondary stage and configured to produce the output signal with the target value across output nodes by sensing the output signal and shunting the secondary stage if a value of the output signal is above the target value.

Claims

1. A circuit, comprising:

a secondary stage configured to be inductively coupled with a power line carrying an alternating current (AC) source signal, wherein the power line acts as a primary stage to form a transformer with the secondary stage so that a magnetic field of the power line provides a secondary electrical signal in the secondary stage;

a pair of output nodes;

a regulator module configured to receive the secondary electrical signal and to produce an output signal with a target value across the pair of output nodes, wherein the regulator module, to produce the output signal with the target value, is to;

receive a first voltage that is indicative of a value of the output signal across the pair of output nodes;

receive a reference voltage that corresponds to the target value; and

shunt the secondary stage if the first voltage is greater than the reference voltage, a rectifier coupled to the secondary stage and configured to convert the secondary electrical signal from an AC signal to a direct current (DC) secondary electrical signal and to provide the DC secondary electrical signal to the regulator module;

wherein the secondary stage includes a first inductor and a second inductor, wherein the first inductor is configured to provide the secondary electrical signal, and the regulator module is configured to shunt the secondary stage by shunting the second inductor.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the target value is a voltage value.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the target value is a current value.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the target value is a voltage value and the circuit further comprising a voltage divider configured to produce the first voltage from the output signal.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the target value is a current value and the circuit further comprising a shunt resistor configured to produce the first voltage from the output signal.

6. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a current control device coupled across the secondary inductor, wherein the current control device creates a short circuit across the secondary inductor when activated, and wherein the regulator module is configured to selectively activate the current control device.

7. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a high-voltage capacitor coupled to at least one of the pair of output nodes.

8. A circuit, comprising:

a secondary stage including a first inductor and a second inductor configured to be inductively coupled with a power line carrying a source signal, wherein the power line acts as a primary stage to form a transformer with the secondary stage, and wherein the first inductor is configured to provide a secondary electrical signal derived from the source signal via the transformer;

a pair of output nodes configured to receive an output signal;

a regulator module coupled to the secondary stage to derive the output signal from the secondary electrical signal, the regulator module configured to;

receive a first voltage derived from the output signal;

compare the first voltage to a reference voltage that corresponds to a target value of the output signal; and

shunt the second inductor if the first voltage is greater than the reference voltage to provide the output signal with the target value; and

a rectifier coupled to the first inductor and configured to convert the secondary electrical signal from an alternating current (AC) signal to a direct current (DC) secondary electrical signal and to provide the DC secondary electrical signal to the regulator module.

9. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the target value is a target voltage, and the circuit further comprising a voltage divider configured to produce the first voltage from the output signal, the first voltage indicative of a voltage level of the output signal.

10. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the target value is a target current, and the circuit further comprising a shunt resistor configured to produce the first voltage from the output signal, the first voltage being indicative of a current value of the output signal.

11. A system, comprising:

an electrical device configured to receive a direct current (DC) output signal having a target value;

a magnetic flux conversion device (MFCD) coupled to the electrical device, the MFCD including a pair of output nodes and configured to provide the output signal to the electrical device at the output nodes, and the MFCD further including;

a secondary stage including a first inductor and a second inductor configured to be inductively coupled with a power line carrying an alternating current (AC) source signal, wherein the power line acts as a primary stage to form a transformer with the secondary stage, and wherein the source signal provides a secondary electrical signal across the first inductor via the transformer;

a rectifier coupled to the first inductor to convert the secondary electrical signal from an AC signal to a direct current (DC) secondary electrical signal; and

a regulator module configured to receive the DC secondary electrical signal and to produce the output signal by sensing the output signal and shunting the second inductor if a value of the output signal is above the target value, wherein the regulator module is configured to receive a first voltage derived from the output signal, and to determine if the value of the output signal is above the target value by comparison of the first voltage with a reference voltage.

12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the target value is at least one of a voltage value and/or a current value.

13. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the target value is a voltage value and the circuit further comprising a voltage divider configured to produce the first voltage from the output signal.

14. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the target value is a current value and the circuit further comprising a shunt resistor configured to produce the first voltage from the output signal.