Boost converter with zero voltage switching

• US 9,577,530 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor Limited (Navitas Semiconductor Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Navitas Semiconductor, Inc.
• Inventors: Ribarich, Tom, Zhang, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/356,425
• Time in Patent Office: 95 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0058 by employing soft switching techniques, i.e. commutation of transistors when applied voltage is zero or when current flow is zero using an auxiliary actively switched resonant commutation circuit connected to an intermediate DC voltage or between two push-pull branches of an inverter bridge H02M7/4811; in resonant inverters H02M7/4815; in inverters operating from a resonant DC source H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• 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

A power converter circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a capacitor connected across first and second output terminals, an inductor configured to receive current from a power source, and a main switch configured to selectively conduct current from the inductor to a ground. The circuit also includes a diode configured to conduct current from the inductor to the capacitor, and a second switch connected in parallel with the diode, where the second switch is configured to selectively conduct current from the capacitor to the inductor.

Claims

1. A power converter circuit, comprising:

a capacitor connected across first and second output terminals;

an inductor, configured to receive current from a power source;

a main switch, configured to selectively conduct current from the inductor to a ground;

a diode, configured to conduct current from the inductor to the capacitor; and

a second switch connected in parallel with the diode, wherein the second switch is configured to selectively conduct current from the capacitor to the inductor.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the main switch is configured to become conductive while the voltage across the main switch is substantially 0 V.

3. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to generate signals controlling the conductive states of the main switch and the second switch.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the diode is configured to conduct the current from the inductor to the capacitor while the main switch is non-conductive.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the second switch is configured to conduct the current from the inductor to the capacitor while the main switch is non-conductive.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the second switch is configured to conduct current from the capacitor to the inductor while the main switch is non-conductive.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the inductor is configured to conduct current from the main switch and from the second switch while the main switch and the second switch are non-conductive, such that the voltage across the main switch becomes substantially 0 V.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the main switch is configured to become conductive as a result of the voltage across the main switch becoming substantially 0 V.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the main switch is configured to be conductive for a duration based on an output voltage of the circuit.

10. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the second switch is configured to become non-conductive in response to current flowing from the capacitor to the inductor having a minimum magnitude.

11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the second switch is configured to become conductive in response to a decrease in the difference between the voltages at the drain and source of the second switch.

12. A method of operating a power converter circuit comprising a capacitor connected across first and second output terminals, an inductor configured to receive current from a power source, a main switch, a diode, and a second switch connected in parallel with the diode, the method comprising:

conducting current from a power source to the inductor;

selectively conducting current from the inductor to a ground;

with the diode, conducting current from the inductor to the capacitor; and

with the second switch, selectively conducting current from the capacitor to the inductor.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the main switch to become conductive while the voltage across the main switch is substantially 0 V.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the diode conducts the current from the inductor to the capacitor while the main switch is non-conductive.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second switch conducts the current from the inductor to the capacitor while the main switch is non-conductive.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the second switch conducts current from the capacitor to the inductor while the main switch is non-conductive.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the inductor conducts current from the main switch and from the second switch while the main switch and the second switch are non-conductive, such that the voltage across the main switch becomes substantially 0 V, and wherein the main switch becomes conductive as a result of the voltage across the main switch becoming substantially 0 V.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the main switch is conductive for a duration based on an output voltage of the circuit.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the second switch to become non-conductive in response to current flowing from the capacitor to the inductor having a minimum magnitude.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing the second switch to become conductive in response to a decrease in the difference between the voltages at the drain and source of the second switch.