Peak power control technique for primary side controller operation in continuous conduction mode
First Claim
1. A power converter for providing a regulated output voltage, the power converter comprising:
- a. an isolation transformer comprising a primary side, a secondary side, and an auxiliary winding on the primary side;
b. a main switch coupled to the primary side;
c. an output rectifier coupled the secondary side to output the regulated output voltage; and
d. a control module coupled to the primary side for determining a period of nominal power use and a period of high power use and configuring the power converter to operate in a discontinuous conduction mode during the period of nominal power use and to operate in a continuous conduction mode during the period of high power use, wherein the control module comprises a gate driver circuit, a first switch and a second switch, wherein the gate driver circuit is configured to drive the main switch, further wherein the first switch is ON and the second switch is OFF during the period of nominal power use thereby enabling a first signal generation path to the gate driver circuit and disabling a second signal generation path to the gate driver circuit, further wherein the first switch is OFF and the second switch is ON during the period of high power use thereby enabling the second signal generation path and disabling the first signal generation path, wherein the second signal generation path includes connection to a negative power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power converter includes a primary side controller configured to operate the power converter in the discontinuous conduction mode during low to mid-power requirements and to operate the power converter in the continuous conduction mode during high or peak power requirements. The power converter includes a primary side auxiliary winding that provides a feedback signal to the primary side controller, and an adjusted resistor and diode circuit which is coupled to a multi-function feedback (FB) pin of the primary side controller. The primary side controller monitors for a peak power demand, upon detection of which a negative supply rail is enabled, which is used to compensate for voltage losses due to non-zero current while operating in the CCM, thereby enabling output voltage regulation while operating in the CCM during peak power demand.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A power converter for providing a regulated output voltage, the power converter comprising:
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a. an isolation transformer comprising a primary side, a secondary side, and an auxiliary winding on the primary side; b. a main switch coupled to the primary side; c. an output rectifier coupled the secondary side to output the regulated output voltage; and d. a control module coupled to the primary side for determining a period of nominal power use and a period of high power use and configuring the power converter to operate in a discontinuous conduction mode during the period of nominal power use and to operate in a continuous conduction mode during the period of high power use, wherein the control module comprises a gate driver circuit, a first switch and a second switch, wherein the gate driver circuit is configured to drive the main switch, further wherein the first switch is ON and the second switch is OFF during the period of nominal power use thereby enabling a first signal generation path to the gate driver circuit and disabling a second signal generation path to the gate driver circuit, further wherein the first switch is OFF and the second switch is ON during the period of high power use thereby enabling the second signal generation path and disabling the first signal generation path, wherein the second signal generation path includes connection to a negative power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling a power converter comprising:
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a. configuring the power converter with an isolation transformer having a primary side, a secondary side, and an auxiliary winding on the primary side, wherein a regulated output voltage is provided on the secondary side; b. determining a period of nominal power use and a period of high power use; and c. operating the power converter in a discontinuous conduction mode during the period of nominal power use and enabling a first signal generation path to generate a first driving signal for driving the power converter during the period of nominal use, and operating the power converter in a continuous conduction mode during the period of high power use and enabling a second signal generation path to generate a second driving signal for driving the power converter during the period of high power use, wherein enabling the first signal generation path comprises turning ON a first switch and turning OFF a second switch during the period of nominal use, and enabling the second signal generation path comprises turning OFF the first switch and turning ON the second switch during the period of high power use, wherein the second signal generation path includes connection to a negative power supply. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification