Burst-mode control method for low input power consumption in resonant converters and related control device
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- controlling burst-mode operation of a converter having an oscillator configured to set a switching frequency of on-off driven power switches of the converter in response to a feedback control signal based on an output error voltage of the converter;
operating the oscillator, when a load on the converter is light, relative to a maximum capacity of the converter, in a hysteretically controlled burst-mode including causing said oscillator to stop oscillating when said feedback control signal reaches a first threshold value; and
introducing a nonlinearity in a derivative of a functional relation between the switching frequency and said feedback control signal, while the feedback control signal is between a lower, second threshold value, and the first threshold value and the oscillator is not in the burst-mode, such that the switching frequency remains equal to or smaller than a value of the switching frequency when the feedback control signal is equal to the second threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An effective method enhances energy saving at low load in a resonant converter with a hysteretic control scheme for implementing burst-mode at light load. The method causes a current controlled oscillator of the converter to stop oscillating when a feedback control current of the output voltage of the converter reaches a first threshold value, and introduces a nonlinearity in the functional relation between the frequency of oscillation and said feedback control current or in a derivative of the functional relation, while the control current is between a lower, second threshold value and the first threshold value, such that the frequency of oscillation remains equal or smaller than the frequency of oscillation when the control current is equal to the second threshold value. Several circuital implementations are illustrated, all of simple realization without requiring any costly microcontroller.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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controlling burst-mode operation of a converter having an oscillator configured to set a switching frequency of on-off driven power switches of the converter in response to a feedback control signal based on an output error voltage of the converter; operating the oscillator, when a load on the converter is light, relative to a maximum capacity of the converter, in a hysteretically controlled burst-mode including causing said oscillator to stop oscillating when said feedback control signal reaches a first threshold value; and introducing a nonlinearity in a derivative of a functional relation between the switching frequency and said feedback control signal, while the feedback control signal is between a lower, second threshold value, and the first threshold value and the oscillator is not in the burst-mode, such that the switching frequency remains equal to or smaller than a value of the switching frequency when the feedback control signal is equal to the second threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A resonant converter, comprising:
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an input voltage source node; a ground terminal; a totem-pole of power switches electrically coupled between the input voltage source node and the ground terminal and electrically coupled to each other by an intermediate node; a resonant tank circuit electrically coupled to the intermediate node and including; a capacitor, a first inductance, and a second inductance; a transformer having a primary winding and a center-tap secondary that includes first and second windings; first and second output diodes having respective anodes respective electrically coupled to the first and second windings and respective cathodes; and a parallel circuit electrically coupled to the cathodes of the first and second output diodes and including an output capacitor and a resistance configured to flow an output current; and an on-off driver circuit configured to drive said switches and including; an oscillator configured to set a switching frequency of the resonant converter as a function of an output voltage feedback control signal, and a hysteretic control circuit configured to implement a burst-mode at light load when said feedback control signal reaches a first threshold value, causing said oscillator to stop oscillating, said hysteretic control circuit being configured to introduce a nonlinearity in a derivative of a functional relation between the switching frequency and said feedback control signal when the feedback control signal exceeds a second, lower threshold value while the oscillator is not in the burst-mode, such that the switching frequency remains equal to or smaller than a value of the switching frequency when the feedback control signal is equal to the second threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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in a converter, providing a feedback signal at a magnitude that is inversely related to a power demand of the converter; increasing a power output of the converter by decreasing a switching frequency of the converter and decreasing the power output of the converter by increasing the switching frequency; controlling the switching frequency in direct, substantially linear relation to the magnitude of the feedback signal; shifting the converter to an idle condition when the feedback signal exceeds a first threshold; and introducing a nonlinearity into a derivative of the relation of the switching frequency and the magnitude of the feedback signal when the feedback signal exceeds a second threshold, lower than the first threshold, while the hysteretic control circuit is not in the burst-mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device, comprising:
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an oscillator having an input configured to receive a control signal and an output configured to provide a switching control signal at a frequency that is related to a value of the control signal; and a burst mode control circuit configured to introduce a nonlinearity into a derivative of a relation of the switching control signal frequency and the control signal in response to detecting that the control signal is greater than a first threshold, and to shift the oscillator to a burst mode in response to detecting that the control signal is greater than a second threshold, higher than the first threshold, wherein the burst mode control circuit is configured to introduce the nonlinearity into the derivative of the relation of the switching control signal frequency and the control signal while the oscillator is not in the burst mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A resonant converter, comprising:
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an input voltage source node; a ground terminal; a totem-pole of power switches electrically coupled between the input voltage source node and the ground terminal and electrically coupled to each other by an intermediate node; a resonant tank circuit electrically coupled to the intermediate node and including; a capacitor, a first inductance, and a second inductance; a transformer having a primary winding and a center-tap secondary that includes first and second windings; first and second output diodes having respective anodes respective electrically coupled to the first and second windings and respective cathodes; a parallel circuit electrically coupled to the cathodes of the first and second output diodes and including an output capacitor and a resistance configure to flow an output current; an on-off driver circuit configured to drive said switches and including; a timing capacitor; an oscillator configured to set a switching frequency of the resonant converter as a function of an output voltage feedback control signal, the oscillator comprising; a dedicated input pin, first and second current mirrors electrically coupled to the timing capacitor, a first clamp circuit coupling at least one of the first and second current mirrors to the dedicated input pin and configured to make a charge and/or discharge current of said timing capacitor proportional to a current sunk through said dedicated input pin, and a hysteresis switch configured to couple an input of the first clamp circuit alternately to first and second reference voltages; and a hysteretic control circuit configured to implement a burst-mode at light load when said feedback control signal reaches a first threshold value, causing said oscillator to stop oscillating, said hysteretic control circuit being configured to introduce a nonlinearity in a functional relation between the switching frequency and said feedback control signal or in a derivative of the functional relation when the feedback control signal exceeds a second, lower threshold value, such that the switching frequency remains equal to or smaller than a value of the switching frequency when the feedback control signal is equal to the second threshold value, said hysteretic control circuit includes a comparator configured to compare a feedback voltage, based on the output voltage feedback control signal, with a threshold voltage, and control the hysteresis switch; an error amplifier of a closed-loop negative feedback, the error amplifier being configured to output a feedback control voltage; and an opto-coupling device configured to sink a current as said output voltage feedback control signal and transfer the feedback control voltage across an isolation boundary of the resonant converter.
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Specification