Dynamic maneuvering configuration for multiple control modes in a unified servo system

• US 9,831,768 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane Electronics, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane Electronics, Inc. (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Lam, Cuon, Song, Sovann, Nguyen, Khoa
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): JAMALI, ISHRAT F
• Application Number:
  US14/787,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• 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 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods that provide control circuits having multiple sub-control inputs that control operation of a power electronics device (e.g., a power converter). Each of the multiple sub-control inputs are output from a separate sub-control circuit that includes a feedback circuit having an input tied to a common control node. The common control node is coupled to an input of a controller (e.g., a PWM controller). Outputs of each of the sub-control circuits are coupled to the common control node by a respective switch (e.g., diode, transistor, etc.) so that each of the sub-control circuits may be selectively coupled to the common control node to provide a control signal to a controller. Since components of each of the feedback compensations circuits are biased at a regulation voltage instead of a higher power supply voltage, the control circuit may switch between control modes with minimal delay.

Claims

1. A control circuit to control the operation of a power electronics device, the control circuit comprising:

a common control node that in operation provides a regulation voltage to the power electronics device; and

a plurality of sub-control circuits, each of the plurality of sub-control circuits includes an output selectively coupled to the common control node via a respective one of a plurality of switches, one of plurality of switches closes at a time, and each of the sub-control circuits includes a capacitive feedback compensation circuit which provides AC compensation for the sub-control circuit, the feedback compensation circuit having a capacitor directly electrically connected to the common control node to bias the capacitor at the regulation voltage of the common control node such that, during a transition of control from a first one of the plurality of sub-control circuits to a second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits, the capacitor for the second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits discharges from the regulation voltage of the common control node.

2. The control circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a first reference voltage supply coupled to an input of a first one of the plurality of sub-control circuits; and

a second reference voltage supply coupled to an input of a second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits.

3. The control circuit of claim 2 wherein the first reference voltage supply provides a voltage indicative of a reference output voltage for the power electronics device, and the second reference voltage supply provides a voltage indicative of a reference output current for the power electronics device.

4. The control circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller that includes a control input, the control input electrically coupled to the common control node.

5. The control circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a first parameter sense circuit that includes an output indicative of a first parameter of the power electronics device, the output coupled to an input of a first one of the plurality of sub-control circuits; and

a second parameter sense circuit that includes an output indicative of a second parameter of the power electronics device, the output coupled to an input of a second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits.

6. The control circuit of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first parameter or the second parameter includes an output voltage, an output current, or a temperature of a component of the power electronics device.

7. The control circuit of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of switches is in the form of a diode or a transistor.

8. A method of controlling a power electronics device, the method comprising:

providing a common control node that in operation provides a regulation voltage;

coupling the common control node to a controller of the power electronics device; and

for each of a plurality of sub-control circuits,

coupling an output of the sub-control circuit to the common control node via a switch; and

connecting a capacitor of a capacitive feedback compensation circuit directly to the common control node to bias the capacitor at the regulation voltage of the common control node such that, during a transition of control from a first one of the plurality of sub-control circuits to a second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits, the capacitor for the second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits discharges from the regulation voltage of the common control node.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing a first control signal from a first one of the sub-control circuits to the controller via the common control node by closing a first one of the switches associated with the first one of the sub-control circuits;

opening the first one of the switches associated with the first one of the sub-control circuits; and

closing a second one of the switches associated with a second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits to provide a second control signal from the second one of the plurality of sub-control circuits to the controller via the common control node.