Dual transformer device for power converters
First Claim
1. A power converter comprising:
- (a) a transformer device responsive to an AC voltage, said transformer device configured to function as both a transformer and as an energy storage device, said transformer device when functioning as said transformer acting to produce a plurality of substantially out-of-phase transformed voltages from said AC voltage and said transformer device when functioning as said energy storage device acting to store energy responsive to said AC voltage; and
,(b) switching means for rectifying said plurality of substantially out-of-phase transformed voltages and producing at lest one rectified voltage therefrom and for controlling said transformer device so that said transformer device discharges said energy stored therein through said switching means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual transformer device (34) for use in a power converter (30) is provided. The dual transformer device is preferably implemented as an integrated magnetics device suitable for use in high density power converters. Two transformers, T1 and T2, have series connected primary windings (300 and 302), and secondary windings (304 and 306) connected at a common node (312). T1 and T2 have magnetizing inductances, L1 and L2, that independently store energy responsive to an AC voltage, Vp. Diodes, D1 and D2, operate to rectify substantially out-of-phase secondary voltages, VS1 and VS2 and produce a rectified voltage VR. D1 and D2 cause L1 and L2 to store discharge energy such that the magnitude of an output current, I5, is always equal to the sum of magnetizing currents, IL1 and IL2. An output filter (38) reduces current ripple in I5 and voltage ripple in VR. Another inductance, L3, supplies energy to an AC voltage supply (32) to reduce switching losses.
42 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A power converter comprising:
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(a) a transformer device responsive to an AC voltage, said transformer device configured to function as both a transformer and as an energy storage device, said transformer device when functioning as said transformer acting to produce a plurality of substantially out-of-phase transformed voltages from said AC voltage and said transformer device when functioning as said energy storage device acting to store energy responsive to said AC voltage; and
,(b) switching means for rectifying said plurality of substantially out-of-phase transformed voltages and producing at lest one rectified voltage therefrom and for controlling said transformer device so that said transformer device discharges said energy stored therein through said switching means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A power converter suitable for connecting to an AC power supply, said power converter comprising:
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(a) a transformer device response to an AC voltage configured to function as a transformer and as first and second energy storage devices, said transformer device when functioning as said transformer acting to produce a plurality of substantially out-of-phase transformed voltages from said AC voltage, said transformer device when functioning as said first energy storage device acting to store energy responsive to said AC voltage, and said transformer device when functioning as said second energy storage device acting to store and discharge energy responsive to said AC voltage and supplying said energy discharged therefrom to the AC power supply to substantially reduce switching losses in the AC power supply; and
,(b) switching means for rectifying said plurality of substantially out-of-phase transformed voltages and producing at least one rectified voltage therefrom and for controlling said transformer device so that said energy stored by said transformer device when said transformer device is functioning as said first storgae device is discharged through said switching means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A transformer device comprising:
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(a) a first transformer having primary and secondary windings and a first magnetizing inductance, said first transformer being responsive to an AC voltage and producing a first transformed voltage from said AC voltage and storing energy in said first magnetizing inductance responsive to said AC voltage; and
,(b) a second transformer having primary and secondary windings and a second magnetizing inductance, said second transformer being responsive to said AC voltage and producing a second transformed voltage from said AC voltage that is substantially out-of-phase with said first transformed voltage, said second transformer storing energy in said second magnetizing inductance responsive to said AC voltage such that said energy stored in said second magnetizing inductance is independent of said energy stored in said first magnetizing inductance, wherein said first transformer is coupled to said second transformer such that said primary windings are connected in series and said secondary windings are connected at a common point. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A transformer device comprising:
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(a) at least one flat primary winding formed by folding a flat sheet along perpendicular lines, said flat sheet having flat conductors located thereon; (b) at least one flat secondary winding located adjacent said at least one flat primary winding; and
,(c) a flat core substantially enclosing said at least one flat primary winding and said at least one flat secondary winding. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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- 13. The transformer device claimed in claimed 12, wherein said at least one flat secondary includes two flat secondary windings, said two flat secondary windings located adjacent to said two flat primary windings.
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15. A high density power converter comprising:
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(a) a first transformer primary winding consisting of a substantially flat conductor located on a first flexible strip; (b) a second transformer primary winding consisting of a substantially flat conductor located on a second flexible strip, said second transformer primary winding being series connected to said first transformer primary winding; (c) a secondary conductive sheet sandwiched between said first and second flexible strips, said secondary conductive sheet comprising a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel legs having first and second ends and a base joining said pair of legs at said first ends; (d) a return conductor connected to an edge of said base; (e) a substantially flat core assembly substantially enclosing said first and second flexible sheets and said secondary conductive sheet, such that said second ends of said pair of legs and said return conductor protrude from said core assembly; (f) a bottom conductive sheet attached to said substantially flat core assembly;
said bottom conductive sheet having a bottom conductor attached thereto and extending from an edge of said bottom conductive sheet;(g) a pair of substantially flat diodes connected to said second ends of said pair of legs of said secondary conductive sheet and to said bottom conductive sheet; and
,(h) a low profile capacitor assembly connected to said return conductor and to said bottom conductor.
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Specification