AC-DC CONVERTER CIRCUIT AND POWER SUPPLY

• US 20100202174A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies Wireless IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Unkrich, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/126
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/064 with several outputs

Abstract

An AC-DC converter and a power supply are described.

Claims

1. A power supply, comprising:

an AC-DC converter circuit, comprising;

a first capacitor and a second capacitor; and

a rectifier circuit connected to the first and second capacitor and operative to charge both the first and the second capacitor and to discharge the first capacitor independently of the second capacitor; and

an acoustic transformer.

2. A power supply as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first capacitor is connected in parallel with a series combination of the first capacitor and a diode.

3. A power supply as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a switching apparatus is operative to engage a primary power signal flow path that provides power from the first capacitor until an output voltage reaches a threshold voltage.

5. A power supply as claimed in claim 3, wherein the primary power signal flow path comprises a first driver and the secondary power signal flow path comprises a second driver.

6. A power supply as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second drivers are selectively connected to the acoustic transformer, which is connected to an output rectifier.

7. A power supply as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first driver is selectively connected to the acoustic transformer, which is connected to the output rectifier.

4. (canceled)

8-11. -11. (canceled)

12. An AC-DC converter, comprising:

a first capacitor and a second capacitor;

a rectifier circuit connected to the first and second capacitor and operative to charge both the first and the second capacitor and to discharge the first capacitor independently of the second capacitor, wherein the AC-DC converter circuit provides a rectified output voltage, and a duration of time that a current is drawn from the second capacitor is less than approximately 25% of a period of the rectified output voltage.

13. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 12, wherein the duration is less than approximately 20% of the period, or less than approximately 20% of the period, or less than approximately 10% of the period, or less than approximately 5% of the period.

14. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 13, wherein the AC-DC converter is a component of a power supply.

15. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 14, wherein the power supply is integrated into a portable electronic device.

16. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 14, wherein the power supply includes an acoustic transformer.

17. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 14, wherein the power supply further comprises:

a switching apparatus operative to engage a primary power signal flow path that provides power from the first capacitor until an output voltage reaches a threshold voltage.

18. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 17, wherein the switching apparatus is operative to disengage the primary power signal flow path when the first capacitor voltage reaches the threshold voltage and to engage a secondary power signal flow path that provides power from the second capacitor.

19. An AC-DC converter as recited in claim 15, wherein the power supply includes an acoustic transformer.