Active power factor correction circuit for a constant current power converter

• US 9,214,855 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Gumaer, Traver
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US13/887,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140328096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 363/44, 363/45, 363/82, 363/89, 363/126, 323/205, 323/207, 323/222
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4225 using a non-isolated boost converter
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

The present disclosure provides techniques for power factor correction on a constant current system. In an example embodiment, the present disclosure provides a power factor correction circuit which receives a constant current power input. The power factor correction circuit provides an input voltage tuned to match the phase of the input current. The input voltage is tuned via charging and draining an input capacitor by a switching device. The switching device is driven on a duty cycle synchronously associated with the input current waveform.

Claims

1. A constant current power factor correction circuit, comprising:

an input capacitor configured to receive an input current from a constant current source and produce an input voltage;

a rectifier bridge configured to receive the input current and full-wave rectify the input current;

a controller, wherein the controller senses the input current and the input voltage and continuously monitors the input voltage and compares the input voltage to a reference voltage;

a switching device coupled to the controller, wherein the switching device is switchable between a first state and an second state, wherein when the switching device is in the first state, the input capacitor is charged from the input current and the input voltage rises, and when the switching device is in the second state, the input capacitor is drained and the input voltage drops, wherein the controller switches the switching device from the first state to the second state when the input voltage reaches the reference voltage; and

a DC output bus providing an output voltage, wherein the output voltage is a conditioned form of the input voltage, wherein the input voltage is shaped to be in phase with the input current from the constant current source.

2. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises a switching MOSFET.

3. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage comprises an amplitude representative of a desired power level to be output at the DC output bus.

4. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises a duty cycle, and wherein the input voltage is controlled by controlling the duty cycle.

5. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 4, wherein the duty cycle of the switching device is synchronized with the input current.

6. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 1, wherein the controller generates a pulse width modulation signal which drives the switching device.

7. A constant current power factor correction circuit, comprising:

an input capacitor configured to receive an input current from a constant current source and produce an input voltage, wherein the input current comprises an input current waveform;

a switching device switchable between a first state and an second state, wherein when the switching device is in the first state, the input capacitor is charged from the input current and the input voltage rises, and when the switching device is in the second state, the input capacitor is drained and the input voltage drops, wherein switching back and forth between the first state and the second state gives the input voltage a substantially sinusoidal waveform, wherein the sinusoidal waveform matches the input current waveform; and

a controller coupled to the switching device, wherein the controller controls switching of the switching device, wherein the controller monitors the input voltage and compares the input voltage to a reference voltage, and wherein the controller switches the switching device from the first position to the second position when the input voltage reaches the reference voltage.

8. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 7, wherein the controller further comprises:

a feedback controller, wherein the feedback controller receives and compares a rectified input voltage and the reference voltage and produce an adjustment signal, wherein the adjustment signal increases when the rectified input voltage is below the reference voltage and decreases when the rectified input voltage is above the reference voltage, and wherein the adjustment signal is multiplied with a reference wave synchronized with the input current waveform, generating a control reference signal used to control switching of the switching device.

9. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 8, wherein the controller further comprises:

a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, wherein the PWM controller receives the control reference signal and generates a corresponding PWM signal, and wherein the PWM signal drives the switching of the switching device.

10. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 7, wherein the switching device comprises a switching MOSFET.

11. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 7, wherein the reference voltage comprises an amplitude representative of a desired power level.

12. The constant current power factor correction circuit of claim 7, further comprising:

an output bus configured to receive the input voltage and provide an output voltage to a load, wherein the output voltage is a conditioned form of the input voltage.

13. A method of power factor correction on a constant current system, comprising:

receiving an input current from a constant current input source, the input current having a current waveform;

allowing an input capacitor to charge from the input current, wherein an input voltage formed at the input capacitor rises as the input capacitor charges;

monitoring, by a controller, the input voltage and determining if the input voltage reaches a reference voltage;

switching, by the controller, a switching device from a first state to a second state when the input voltage reaches the reference voltage;

allowing the input capacitor to drain, wherein the input voltage drops as the input capacitor drains; and

shaping the input voltage to have a voltage waveform similar to the current waveform by controlling the switching of the switching device.

14. The method of power factor correction on a constant current system of claim 13, further comprising:

outputting the input voltage via an output bus.

15. The method of power factor correction on a constant current system of claim 14, further comprising:

filtering and rectifying the input voltage to produce a DC voltage; and

outputting the DC voltage via a DC output bus.

16. The method of power factor correction on a constant current system of claim 13, further comprising:

full-wave rectifying the input current.

17. The method of power factor correction on a constant current system of claim 13, wherein the switching device comprises a switching MOSFET.