Method of controlling signal generator

• US 20040117676A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takehara, Nobuyoshi, Kobayashi, Takuma
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/4807 having a high frequency intermediate AC stage
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53873 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 5/02 of power

Abstract

A method of controlling a signal generator using a microcomputer having a timer, the signal generator outputting a control signal for controlling a timing of turning on/off a semiconductor device by means of the timer, the method comprising an interrupting step started by an interrupting signal to the microcomputer every predetermined period, wherein the interrupting step comprises the setting step of setting a set value for the timer, the set value being calculated in a pre-interrupting step preceding the interrupting step, and the calculating step of determining a set value for the timer, the set value being used in a post-interrupting step succeeding the interrupting step, and wherein the setting step is performed before the calculating step in each of the interrupting steps. Therefore, a longer time is allowed for calculating a set value for the timer and a speed required for the microcomputer can be reduced.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a signal generator using a microcomputer having a timer, the signal generator outputting a control signal for controlling a timing of turning on/off a semiconductor device by means of the timer,

the method comprising an interrupting step started by an interrupting signal to the microcomputer every predetermined period,

wherein the interrupting step comprises at least the setting step of setting a set value for the timer, the set value being calculated in a pre-interrupting step preceding the interrupting step, and the calculating step of determining a set value for the timer, the set value being used in a post-interrupting step succeeding the interrupting step, and the setting step is performed before the calculating step in each of the interrupting steps.

2. The method of controlling the signal generator according to claim 1, wherein the interrupting step comprises the setting step of setting a first timing of turning on/off the semiconductor device for the timer, the first timing being calculated in the calculating step of a pre-interrupting step preceding the interrupting step by the predetermined period, and the calculating step of calculating a second timing of turning on/off the semiconductor device, the second timing being set for the timer in the setting step of a post-interrupting step succeeding the interrupting step by the predetermined period.

4. The method of controlling the signal generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the signal generator controls the semiconductor device of a power converter.

5. The method of controlling the signal generator according to claim 4, wherein the power converter controlled by the signal generator is a power conditioner for photovoltaic power generation.

6. A program for performing the method of controlling the signal generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5.

7. A program for performing the method of controlling the signal generator according to claim 4.

8. A recording medium which stores the program of claim 6.

9. A recording medium which stores the program of claim 7.

3. A method of controlling a signal generator using a microcomputer having a timer, the signal generator outputting a control signal for controlling a timing of turning on/off at least first and second semiconductor devices by means of the timer,

the method comprising an interrupting step started by an interrupting signal to the microcomputer every predetermined period,

wherein the interrupting step comprises the calculating step of calculating a timing of turning on/off the first and the second semiconductor devices, and the setting step of setting, for the timer, the calculated timing of turning on/off the first and the second semiconductor devices after an on/off control signal of the first semiconductor device is outputted.