DC-to-DC converter providing high current and low voltage

• US 6,515,877 B1
• Filed: 05/22/1998
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dinh, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US09/083,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/24, 363/25, 363/62, 363/84, 363/125, 363/126, 363/127, 363/132, 363/133
• US Class Current: 363/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33592 having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a synchronous freewheeling circuit at the secondary side of an isolation transformer
• 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

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a DC-to-DC converter includes: a synchronous rectifier converter. The synchronous rectifier converter includes a buck converter. The transformer of the synchronous rectifier converter employs less than five windings on the secondary.

Claims

1. A DC-to-DC converter comprising:

a synchronous rectifier converter, said synchronous rectifier converter comprising a buck converter;

the transformer of said synchronous rectifier converter employing less than five windings on the secondary of the transformer.

2. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the transformer employs one winding on its secondary.

3. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 2, wherein the synchronous rectifier converter includes an output inductor, the output inductor employing one winding.

4. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the synchronous rectifier includes an output inductor, the inductor employing less than five windings.

5. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the synchronous rectifier comprises a push-pull synchronous rectifier.

6. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 5, wherein the buck converter comprises a circuit configuration to step down the voltage applied to the primary of the transformer.

7. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 6, wherein said synchronous rectifier, push-pull converter is capable of accommodating a load current in the order of tens of amps.

8. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 7, wherein said synchronous rectifier, push-pull converter is capable of accommodating a load current above approximately 60 amps.

9. The DC-to-DC converter of claim 8, wherein said synchronous rectifier, push-pull converter is capable of accommodating a load voltage of approximately 1.5 volts.

10. A system comprising:

a processor and a DC-to-DC converter;

the DC-to-DC converter capable of providing a load current above approximately 60 amps and a load voltage of approximately 1.5 volts to said processor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said DC-to-DC converter includes a transformer, the transformer of said DC-to-DC converter employing one winding on the secondary of the transformer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said DC-to-DC converter includes an output inductor, the output inductor employing one winding.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor comprises a microprocessor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the microprocessor and DC-to-D C converter are incorporated into a server system.

15. A method of producing a high current, low voltage direct current output signal comprising:

applying a switching power signal to the primary of a transformer having a single winding on its secondary;

synchronously rectifying the power signal induced in the secondary of the transformer; and

smoothing the synchronously rectified signal using an output inductor having a single winding.

16. The method of claim 15, and further comprising:

adjusting the duty cycle of the switching power signal applied to the primary based, at least in part, on the voltage of the smoothed, synchronously rectified induced secondary power signal.

17. The method of claims 16,

wherein the duty cycle is adjusted using a buck converter.

18. The method of claim 17, and further comprising:

stepping down the primary voltage before application to buck converter.