High efficiency electronic load

• US 6,614,231 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UCAP Power, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Maxwell Technologies Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Thrap, Guy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEROUX, ETIENNE PIERRE
• Application Number:
  US09/935,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20030038636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 363/34, 363/37, 363/44, 324/119, 324/120, 324/134, 324/415, 324/416
• US Class Current: 324/416
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/42 AC power supplies

Abstract

A high efficiency electronic load has a switch mode power factor corrected (PFC) input rectifier circuit that provides a high voltage positive and negative direct current (DC) voltage to drive a switching inverter that in turn delivers an output alternating current (AC) back into an AC power line. The input PFC circuit is phase and frequency controlled by the input AC power line which allows the input and output to be operating at completely different frequencies.

Claims

1. A high efficiency electronic load comprising:

a switch mode power factor corrected input rectifier circuit that receives an alternating current voltage input and produces a high voltage positive and negative direct current voltage output;

a high frequency switching inverter having an input coupled to the high voltage positive and negative direct current voltage output and for producing an alternating current output; and

an output filter having an input coupled to the alternating current output and for removing high frequency switching noise and delivering an alternating current power to an input alternating current power line of a unit under test.

2. The high efficiency electronic load according to claim 1 further comprising means electrically coupled to the high frequency switching inverter for providing a programmable constant power load on the unit under test.

3. The high efficiency electronic load according to claim 1 further comprising a transformer electrically coupled to the alternating current voltage input for changing the amplitude of the alternating current voltage input and for providing electrical isolation between the unit under test and inverter.

4. The high efficiency electronic load according to claim 1 further comprising a transformer electrically coupled to the output filter for changing the amplitude of the alternating current power from the output filter and providing electrical isolation between the inverter and the input alternating current power line of the unit under test.

5. The high efficiency electronic load according to claim 4 further comprising a transformer electrically coupled to the alternating current voltage input for changing the amplitude of the alternating current voltage input and for providing electrical isolation between the unit under test and inverter.

6. A method for providing an electronic load to a unit under test comprising:

receiving an alternating current voltage input from an alternating current output of a unit under test;

producing a high voltage positive and negative direct current voltage output from the alternating current voltage input;

producing an alternating current output from the high voltage positive and negative direct current that is phase synchronized with a line voltage of an alternating current input of the unit under test;

filtering the alternating current output to remove high frequency switching noise; and

applying the alternating current output to the alternating current input line of the unit under test.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of programming a constant power or constant current load on the unit under test.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of selectively changing the amplitude of the alternating current voltage input.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of selectively changing the amplitude of the alternating current output to be applied to the alternating current input line of the unit under test.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of selectively changing the amplitude of the alternating current voltage input.

11. A high efficiency electronic load comprising:

a switch mode input circuit that receives a direct current input voltage and produces positive and negative direct current voltage output;

a high frequency switching inverter having an input coupled to the high voltage positive and negative direct current voltage output and for producing an alternating current output; and

an output filter having an input coupled to the alternating current output and for removing high frequency switching noise and delivering an alternating current power to an input alternating current power line of a unit under test.

12. The high efficiency electronic load according to claim 11 further comprising means electrically coupled to the high frequency switching inverter for providing a programmable constant power or constant current load on the unit under test.

13. The high efficiency electronic load according to claim 11 further comprising a transformer electrically coupled to the output filter for changing the amplitude of the alternating current power from the output filter and providing electrical isolation between the inverter and the input alternating current power line of the unit under test.

14. A method for providing an electronic load to a unit under test comprising:

receiving a direct current voltage input from a direct current output of a unit under test;

producing a high voltage positive and negative direct current voltage output from the direct current voltage input;

producing an alternating current output from the high voltage positive and negative direct current that is phase synchronized with a line voltage of an alternating current input of the unit under test;

filtering the alternating current output to remove high frequency switching noise; and

applying the alternating current output to the alternating current input line of the unit under test.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of programming a constant power load on the unit under test.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of selectively changing the amplitude of the direct current voltage input.

17. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of selectively changing the amplitude of the alternating current output to be applied to the alternating current input line of the unit under test.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of selectively changing the amplitude of the alternating current voltage input.

19. A high efficiency electronic load, comprising:

a switch mode power factor corrected input rectifier circuit that receives an alternating current voltage input from a unit under test and produces a positive and negative direct current voltage output;

a high frequency switching inverter having an input coupled to the positive and negative direct current voltage output and for producing an alternating current output; and

an output filter having an input coupled to the alternating current output of the inverter and for removing high-frequency switching noise and delivering an alternating current power;

wherein the alternating current power of the filter is delivered to an input line of the unit under test.

20. A high efficiency electronic load, comprising:

a switch mode input circuit that receives a direct current voltage input from a unit under test and produces a positive and negative direct current voltage output;

a high frequency switching inverter having an input coupled to the positive and negative direct current voltage output and for producing an alternating current output; and

an output filter having an input coupled to the alternating current output of the inverter and for removing high-frequency switching noise and delivering an alternating current power;

wherein the alternating current power of the filter is delivered to an input line of the unit under test.