Synchronous rectifier circuit

• US 9,812,983 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Company LTC
• Inventors: Inoue, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iliya, Bart
• Application Number:
  US15/153,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20160344302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0025 Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/219 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/2195 the switches being synchronously commutated at the same frequency of the AC input voltage
• 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 first variable voltage source VS1 generates a first threshold voltage V_ZC1 which is variable. A first zero current detection comparator ZC_CMP1 compares a first voltage V_AC1 at a first input node AC1 with the first threshold voltage V_ZC1, and generates a ZC_DET1 signal which indicates a comparison result. A first adjustment comparator ADJ_CMP1 compares the first voltage V_AC1 with a first reference voltage V_TH1. A first adjustment unit adjusts the first threshold voltage V_ZC1 generated by the first variable voltage source VS1, based on the output VF_DET1 of the first adjustment comparator ADJ_CMP1. A control logic switches the state of a bridge circuit according to at least the first detection signal ZC_DET1.

Claims

1. A control circuit structured to form a synchronous rectifier circuit together with a bridge circuit, wherein the bridge circuit comprises:

a first transistor arranged between a first input node and a rectification node;

a second transistor arranged between a second input node and the rectification node;

a third transistor arranged between the first input node and a reference node; and

a fourth transistor arranged between the second input node and the reference node,

and wherein the control circuit comprises;

a first variable voltage source structured to generate a first threshold voltage which is variable;

a first zero current detection comparator structured to compare a first voltage at the first input node with the first threshold voltage, and to generate a first detection signal having a first level when the first voltage is higher than the first threshold voltage, and having a second level when the first voltage is lower than the first threshold voltage;

a first adjustment comparator structured to compare the first voltage with a first reference voltage;

a first adjustment unit structured to adjust the first threshold voltage generated by the first variable voltage source, based on an output of the first adjustment comparator; and

a control logic structured to switch a state of the bridge circuit according to the first detection signal,

and wherein the first adjustment unit comprises an up/down counter structured to select one from among a count up operation and a count down operation, according to an output of the first adjustment comparator,

and wherein the first adjustment voltage is set according to a count value of the up/down counter,

and wherein the first threshold voltage is variable in the vicinity of zero,

wherein the first reference voltage is configured as a negative voltage,

wherein the control logic is structured to instruct the bridge circuit to transit from a first state to a second state when the first detection signal becomes the first level,

wherein a pair of the first transistor and the fourth transistor are turned off and a pair of the second transistor and the third transistor are turned on in the first state, and the first transistor through the fourth transistor are turned off in second state.

2. The control circuit according to claim 1, wherein, with a forward voltage of a diode as Vf, the first reference voltage is set to be higher than −

Vf.

3. The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a second zero current detection comparator that compares a second voltage at the second input node with a second threshold voltage, and that generates a second detection signal having a first level when the second voltage is higher than the second threshold voltage, and having a second level when the second voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage,

wherein, when the second detection signal becomes the first level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from a third state in which a pair of the second transistor and the third transistor are turned off and a pair of the first transistor and the fourth transistor are turned on, to a fourth state in which the first transistor through the fourth transistor are turned off.

4. The control circuit according to claim 3, further comprising:

a second variable voltage source that generates the second threshold voltage which is variable;

a second adjustment comparator that compares the second voltage with a second reference voltage configured as a negative voltage; and

a second adjustment unit that adjusts the second threshold voltage generated by the second variable voltage source, based on an output of the second adjustment comparator.

5. The control circuit according to claim 3, wherein, when the second detection signal becomes the second level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the second state to the third state,

and wherein, when the first detection signal becomes the second level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the fourth state to the first state.

6. The control circuit according to claim 5, wherein the first zero current detection comparator and the second zero current detection comparator are each configured as a hysteresis comparator.

7. The control circuit according to claim 3, further comprising:

a third zero current detection comparator that compares the first voltage with a third threshold voltage, and that generates a third detection signal which indicates a comparison result; and

a fourth zero current detection comparator that compares the second voltage with a fourth threshold voltage, and that generates a fourth detection signal which indicates a comparison result,

wherein the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the second state to the third state according to one from among the third detection signal and the fourth detection signal,

and wherein the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the fourth state to the first state according to the other signal from among the third detection signal and the fourth detection signal.

8. The control circuit according to claim 1, integrated on a single semiconductor substrate.

9. A synchronous rectifier circuit comprising:

a bridge circuit; and

the control circuit according to claim 1, that controls the bridge circuit.

10. An electronic device comprising the synchronous rectifier circuit according to claim 9.

11. A wireless power receiving apparatus comprising:

a reception coil;

a bridge circuit connected to the reception coil;

the control circuit according to claim 1, that controls the bridge circuit.

12. A control circuit structured to form a synchronous rectifier circuit together with a bridge circuit, wherein the bridge circuit comprises:

a first transistor arranged between a first input node and a rectification node;

a second transistor arranged between a second input node and the rectification node;

a third transistor arranged between the first input node and a reference node; and

a fourth transistor arranged between the second input node and the reference node,

and wherein the control circuit comprises;

a first variable voltage source structured to generate a first threshold voltage which is variable;

a first zero current detection comparator structured to compare a first voltage at the first input node with the first threshold voltage, and to generate a first detection signal having a first level when the first voltage is higher than the first threshold voltage, and having a second level when the first voltage is lower than the first threshold voltage;

a first adjustment comparator structured to compare the first voltage with a first reference voltage;

a first adjustment unit structured to adjust the first threshold voltage generated by the first variable source, based on an output of the first adjustment comparator; and

a control logic structured to switch a state of the bridge circuit according to the first detection signal,

wherein the first threshold voltage is variable in the vicinity of a rectified voltage at the rectification node,

wherein the first reference voltage is configured as a positive voltage that is higher than the rectified voltage,

and wherein, when the first detection signal becomes the second level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from a third state in which a pair of the second transistor and the third transistor are turned off and a pair of the first transistor and the fourth transistor are turned on, to a fourth state in which the first transistor through the fourth transistor are turned off.

13. The control circuit according to claim 12, wherein, with a forward voltage of a diode as Vf, and with the rectified voltage as V_RECT, the first reference voltage is set to be lower than (V_RECT+Vf).

14. The control circuit according to claim 12, further comprising a second zero current detection comparator that compares a second voltage at the second input node with a second threshold voltage, and that generates a second detection signal having a first level when the second voltage is higher than the second threshold voltage, and having a second level when the second voltage is lower than the second threshold voltage,

wherein, when the second detection signal becomes the second level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from a first state in which a pair of the first transistor and the fourth transistor are turned off and a pair of the second transistor and the third transistor are turned on, to a second state in which the first transistor through the fourth transistor are turned off.

15. The control circuit according to claim 14, further comprising:

a second variable voltage source that generates the second threshold voltage which is variable;

a second adjustment comparator that compares the second voltage with a second reference voltage configured as a positive voltage; and

a second adjustment unit that adjusts the second threshold voltage generated by the second variable voltage source, based on an output of the second adjustment comparator.

16. The control circuit according to claim 14, wherein, when the first detection signal becomes the first level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the second state to the third state,

and wherein, when the second detection signal becomes the first level, the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the fourth state to the first state.

17. The control circuit according to claim 16, wherein the first zero current detection comparator and the second zero current detection comparator are each configured as a hysteresis comparator.

18. The control circuit according to claim 14, further comprising:

a third zero current detection comparator that compares the first voltage with a third threshold voltage, and that generates a third detection signal which indicates a comparison result; and

a fourth zero current detection comparator that compares the second voltage with a fourth threshold voltage, and that generates a fourth detection signal which indicates a comparison result,

wherein the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the second state to the third state according to one from among the third detection signal and the fourth detection signal,

and wherein the control logic instructs the bridge circuit to transit from the fourth state to the first state according to the other signal from among the third detection signal and the fourth detection signal.