Multi-Resonant electronic power converter with a wide dynamic range

• US 5,722,057 A
• Filed: 01/31/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wu, You-Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/594,568
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 455/68, 455/69, 455/116, 455/126, 455/127, 455/343, 363/26, 363/27, 363/17
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/338 in a self-oscillating arrangement H02M3/337 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for variably converting DC voltage to a different DC voltage level are effected by a multi-resonant electronic power converter with a wide output voltage dynamic range. The power conversion is accomplished by converting the DC voltage to an AC signal, adjusting or attenuating the AC signal to the desired amplitude, and then converting the AC signal back to a DC voltage. The output voltage may be adjusted by altering the frequency of the AC signal also known as the switching frequency. A wide dynamic range is achieved at a narrow switching frequency bandwidth by inserting either a fourth or higher order low pass filter or a notch filter at the output of the switching transistor. The high roll-off rate exhibited by either filter provides a relatively high dynamic range in a narrow frequency range.

Claims

1. A method of providing a variable power supply based on a particular user'"'"'s power requirement, utilizing a variable high frequency multi-resonant electronic power control, the method comprising the steps of:

a) periodically detecting incoming signals;

b) measuring the strength of the incoming signal and determining the signal strength required to transmit a signal to the source of the incoming signal;

c) generating a pulse signal at a frequency which corresponds to the required transmission signal strength;

d) using the pulse signal to convert a DC voltage to an AC signal at the pulse signal frequency;

e) processing the AC signal by applying it to a filter operable to achieve greater than 50% variation in output magnitude in a frequency bandwidth which is less than 30% of the highest frequency in the band;

f) converting the processed AC signal to a DC voltage; and

g) employing the converted DC voltage to provide the required power to a transmitter.

2. A method of providing a particular user'"'"'s power requirement utilizing a variable high frequency multi-resonant electronic power converter, the method comprising the steps of:

a) periodically detecting incoming signals;

b) measuring the strength of an incoming signal;

c) generating a pulse signal at a frequency which corresponds to the strength of the detected incoming signal;

d) using the pulse signal to convert a DC voltage source to an AC signal at the pulse signal frequency;

e) processing the AC signal by applying it to a filter operable to achieve greater than 50% variation in output magnitude in a frequency bandwidth which is less than one half the lowest frequency in the band;

f) converting the processed AC signal to a DC voltage; and

g) employing the converted DC voltage to provide the required power to a transmitter.

3. An improved variable high frequency multi-resonant power converter for providing power to a transmitter at a level relative to the strength of an incoming signal indicative of a particular user'"'"'s power requirements comprising:

a) means having an output for determining the strength of an incoming signal from a remote source and generating a pulse signal at a frequency corresponding to the strength of incoming signal;

b) a DC power source;

c) a DC--DC multi-resonant converter having a first input and a second input and an output, the first input connected to the output of the pulse generating means, the second input connected to the DC bus, said converter operable to produce an output voltage level proportional to the frequency of the pulse at the first input, said converter further comprising a filter operable to produce greater than a 50% variation in output magnitude within a frequency bandwidth which is less than one-half the frequency in the band.

4. A method of providing a particular user'"'"'s power requirement to a multi-use transmitter utilizing a variable high frequency multi-resonant electronic power converter, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining the signal strength required to transmit a particular set of signals for a particular user'"'"'s power requirement based on a predetermined value of signal strength for said use;

b) generating a pulse signal at a frequency which corresponds to the required transmission signal strength;

c) using the pulse signal to convert a DC voltage to an AC signal at the pulse signal frequency;

d) processing the AC signal by applying it to a filter operable to achieve greater than 50% variation in output magnitude in a frequency bandwidth which is less than 30% of the highest frequency in the band;

e) converting the processed AC signal to a DC voltage; and

f) employing the converted DC voltage to provide power to the transmitter.

5. An improved variable high frequency multi-resonant electronic power converter for providing a required DC output voltage based on a particular user'"'"'s power requirements comprising:

a) a sources of DC power;

b) a DC-AC converter having an input connected to the source of DC power, a frequency control input, and an AC output the frequency of which varies with the frequency of drive pulses applied to the frequency control input;

c) a fourth or greater order low pass filter having an input connected across the AC output of the DC-AC converter and having an output which varies with frequency, said filter being characterized by a gain-frequency response exhibiting a high roll-off rate for a relatively small change in frequency of operation;

d) a small, lightweight transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding with its primary winding connected across the output of the filter;

e) a rectifier circuit operable to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage having an input connected to the secondary winding of the transformer and having an output;

f) an output load connected to the output of the rectifier circuit; and

g) a control circuit with an input for receiving the particular user'"'"'s power requirements and an output connected to said frequency control input of the DC-AC converter, said control circuit calculating and generating high frequency drive pulses on its output so that an appropriate DC voltage is supplied to the output load.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the output load comprises a bank of rf amplifier stages.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is capable of producing a range of frequencies from 700 kHz to 1 MHz at its output.

8. An improved variable high frequency multi-resonant electronic power converter for providing a required DC output voltage based on a particular user'"'"'s power requirements comprising:

a) a source of DC power;

b) a DC-AC converter having an input connected to the source of DC power, a frequency control input, and an AC output the frequency of which varies with the frequency of drive pulses applied to the frequency control input;

c) a notch filter having an input connected across the output of the DC-AC converter and having an output which varies with frequency, said filter being characterized by a gain-frequency response exhibiting a high roll-off rate for a relatively small change in frequency of operation;

d) a small, lightweight transformer having a primary winding a secondary winding with its primary winding connected across the output of the filter;

e) a rectifier circuit operable to convert an AC voltage to a DC voltage having an input connected to the secondary winding of the transformer and having an output;

f) an output load connected to the output of the rectifier circuit; and

g) a control circuit with an input for receiving the particular user'"'"'s power requirements and an output connected to said frequency control input of the DC-AC converter, said control circuit calculating and generating high frequency drive pulses on its output so that an appropriate DC voltage is supplied to the output load.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 having a dynamic range of approximately 100%.