BJT driver with dynamic adjustment of storage time versus input line voltage variations

• US 10,574,145 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Inventors: Werner, Antonius Jacobus Johannes, Bhasin, Manoj, Waterson, Matthew David, Lefedjiev, Adrian Kirilov
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehari, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US16/113,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20180367048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 363 2101- 2118
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0003 Details of control, feedback or regulation circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0022 the disturbance parameters being input voltage fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/04126 in bipolar transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/14 Modifications for compensating variations of physical values, e.g. of temperature

Abstract

A method of dynamically adjusting a storage time of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in a switched mode power converter during a switching cycle includes generating a storage time reference signal responsive to an input voltage signal. A collector off signal is generated responsive to a comparison of a current sense signal to a collector off reference threshold signal. The current sense signal is representative of a switch current of the BJT. A base off reference threshold signal is generated responsive to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal. A base off signal is generated responsive to a comparison of the current sense signal and the base off reference threshold signal. Charging of a base terminal of the BJT is discontinued responsive to the base off signal, and the base terminal of the BJT is discharged responsive to the collector off signal.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically adjusting a storage time of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in a switched mode power converter during a switching cycle, the method comprising:

generating a storage time reference signal in response to an input voltage signal;

generating a collector off signal in response to a first comparison of a current sense signal to a collector off reference threshold signal, wherein the current sense signal is representative of a switch current of the BJT, and wherein generating the collector off signal in response to the first comparison of the current sense signal to the collector off reference threshold signal comprises;

generating the collector off reference threshold signal using an input current peak regulator circuit;

generating a base off reference threshold signal in response to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal;

generating a base off signal in response to a second comparison of the current sense signal and the base off reference threshold signal;

discontinuing charging a base terminal of the BJT in response to the base off signal; and

discharging the base terminal of the BJT in response to the collector off signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating a transfer of power from an input of the switched mode power converter to an output of the switched mode power converter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating an output voltage of the switch mode power converter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the storage time reference signal in response to the input voltage signal comprises generating the input voltage signal in response to a feedback signal, wherein at least one portion of the feedback signal represents an input voltage of the switched mode power converter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input voltage signal is a latched input voltage signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a base drive current to the base terminal of the BJT with a first switch.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein discontinuing charging the base terminal of the BJT in response to the base off signal comprises turning off the first switch.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a variable base drive current to the base terminal of the BJT.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the base terminal of the BJT to a ground terminal with a second switch.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein discharging the base terminal of the BJT in response to the collector off signal further comprises turning on the second switch.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the BJT to a current sense resistor with a third switch.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the current sense signal from the current sense resistor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the current sense signal from the current sense resistor comprises turning on the third switch.

14. A method of controlling a transfer of power in a switched mode power converter from a primary side of an energy transfer element to a secondary side of the energy transfer element, the method comprising:

switching a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in response to an output signal representative of an output of the switched mode power converter;

generating a storage time reference signal in response to a signal representative of an input of the switch mode power converter;

generating a collector off signal in response to a first comparison of a switch current sense signal and a collector off reference signal;

generating a base off reference signal in response to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal;

generating a base off signal in response to a second comparison of the switch current sense signal and the base off reference signal;

discontinuing charging a base terminal of the BJT in response to the base off signal; and

discharging the base terminal of the BJT in response to the collector off signal during a switching cycle of the BJT.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein switching the BJT in response to the output signal representative of the output of the switched mode power converter comprises:

generating the output signal in response to an alternating current (ac) feedback signal from an auxiliary winding on the energy transfer element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the output signal is an output voltage signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the output signal is an output current signal.

18. A method of dynamically adjusting a storage time of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in a switched mode power converter during a switching cycle, the method comprising:

generating a storage time reference signal in response to an input voltage signal;

generating a collector off signal in response to a first comparison of a current sense signal to a collector off reference threshold, wherein generating the collector off signal comprises;

generating the collector off reference threshold based on the current sense signal against a predefined current limit threshold, wherein the current sense signal is representative of a switch current of the BJT;

generating a base off reference threshold signal in response to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal;

generating a base off signal in response to a second comparison of the current sense signal and the base off reference threshold signal;

discontinuing charging a base terminal of the BJT in response to the base off signal; and

discharging the base terminal of the BJT in response to the collector off signal.