Self-resonance sensing dynamic power converter and method thereof

• US 9,729,082 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volpe and Koenig PC
• Original Assignee: Strategic Patent Management, LLC
• Inventors: Ofek, Eran
• Primary Examiner(s): Gblende, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/831,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20150357932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0035 using burst mode control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4233 using a bridge converter comprising active switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/219 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4815 Resonant converters H02M7/4811 and H02M7/4826 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 and a method of operation thereof is disclosed including an input, an output, a sensor unit, a switched power converter, and a processor module. The power converter may convert an input power into an output power. The power converter may sense real-time measurements of the input power and the output power to determine a real-time calculated efficiency. The power converter may chop the input power into sized and positioned portions of the input power based on a plurality of determined operating parameters. The power converter may determine the operating parameters based on the real-time calculated efficiency and on a plurality of other operating factors/conditions.

Claims

1. A power converter comprising:

a controller operably coupled to an alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter and operably coupled to a DC-DC converter, the controller configured to;

determine a self-resonance frequency of the DC-DC converter by sending one or more electrical pulses to the DC-DC converter and measuring a rate at which energy is received resulting from the one or more pulses;

the AC-DC converter and controller configured to;

select at least one portion of an input waveform; and

output one or more portions of the at least one portion at an average frequency that is substantially the same as the determined self-resonance frequency of the DC-DC converter; and

the DC-DC converter operably coupled to the AC-DC converter, wherein the DC-DC converter and controller are configured to receive the one or more portions and convert the one or more portions from a first DC voltage to a second DC voltage at the self-resonance frequency.

2. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the DC-DC converter includes LLC circuitry.

3. The power converter of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a thermal indication from the DC-DC converter and to send a control signal in response to the thermal indication.

4. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the input waveform is an AC waveform, and the AC-DC converter and controller are further configured to select narrower portions of the AC waveform substantially at a peak of the AC waveform than selected portions of the AC waveform substantially at a zero-crossing of the AC waveform.

5. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the AC-DC converter and controller are further configured to delay outputting the one or more portions.

6. The power converter of claim 5, wherein the AC-DC converter and controller are further configured to delay the outputting of the one or more portions to synchronize the one or more portions with a resonance of the DC-DC converter.

7. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the AC-DC converter and controller are further configured to accumulate a plurality of portions of the input waveform.

8. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the self-resonance frequency of the DC-DC converter changes based on a temperature of the DC-DC converter, and the AC-DC converter and controller are further configured to adjust outputting the one or more portions to synchronize with a changed self-resonance frequency.

9. A method of power conversion comprising:

sending one or more electrical pulses to a direct current (DC)-DC converter and measuring a rate at which energy is received resulting from the one or more pulses;

determining a self-resonance frequency of the DC-DC converter based on the measuring;

selecting at least one portion of an input waveform;

outputting one or more portions of the at least one portion at an average frequency that is substantially the same as the determined self-resonance frequency of the DC-DC converter; and

receiving, at the DC-DC converter, the one or more portions and converting the one or more portions from a first voltage to a second voltage at the self-resonance frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the DC-DC converter includes LLC circuitry.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving a thermal indication from the DC-DC converter and sending a control signal in response to the thermal indication.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the input waveform is an alternating current (AC) waveform, and the method further comprising selecting narrower portions of the AC waveform substantially at a peak of the AC waveform than selected portions of the AC waveform substantially at a zero-crossing of the AC waveform.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising delaying outputting the one or more portions.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising delaying the outputting of the one or more portions to synchronize the one or more portions with a resonance of the DC-DC converter.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising accumulating a plurality of portions of the input waveform.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the self-resonance frequency of the DC-DC converter changes based on a temperature of the DC-DC converter, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting outputting the one or more portions to synchronize with a changed self-resonance frequency.