Method and apparatus for power conversion and regulation

• US 7,999,522 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Power Integrations Incorporated
• Inventors: Odell, Arthur B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US12/976,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20110089761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: 323/267, 323/328, 323/265, 323/222, 323/271
• US Class Current: 323/267
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take 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

Techniques are disclosed to control a power converter with multiple output voltages. One example regulated power converter includes a an energy transfer element coupled between a power converter input and first and second power converter outputs. A switch is coupled between the power converter input and the energy transfer element such that switching of the switch causes a first output voltage to be generated at the first power converter output and a second output voltage to be generated at the second power converter output. A current in the energy transfer element is coupled to increase when a voltage across the energy transfer element is a difference between an input voltage at the power converter input and the first output voltage. The current in the energy transfer element is coupled to decrease when the voltage across the energy transfer element is a sum of the first and second output voltages.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

an energy transfer element coupled between a power converter input and first and second power converter outputs;

a switch coupled between the power converter input and the energy transfer element such that switching of the switch causes a first voltage to be generated at the first power converter output and a second voltage to be generated at the second power converter output;

a control circuit coupled to the switch to control switching of the switch to regulate an output voltage in response to a signal received at a terminal of the control circuit, wherein the signal is proportional to a sum of the first and second voltages;

a first means for regulating a first current at the first output; and

a second means for regulating a second current at the second output, wherein the first means regulates the first current independent of the second means and the second means regulates the second current independent of the first means.

2. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer element comprises an inductor coupled between the power converter input and the first and second power converter outputs.

3. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising:

a first capacitor coupled across the first power converter output; and

a second capacitor coupled across the second power converter output.

4. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the first power converter output and the second power converter output are coupled to a ground terminal.

5. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the output voltage is the sum of the first voltage and the second voltage.

6. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising:

a first load impedance coupled across the first power converter output, such that the first voltage is across the first load impedance; and

a second load impedance coupled across the second power converter output such that the second voltage is across the second load impedance.

7. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising:

a resistance coupled to the first power converter output; and

means for adding unidirectional current at the first power converter output when a first load impedance to be coupled across the first power converter output is insufficient to maintain the first voltage.

8. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising:

a resistance coupled to the first power converter output; and

means for conducting a shunt current across the first power converter output to maintain the first voltage.

9. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising:

a first load impedance coupled across the first power converter output, such that the first voltage is across the first load impedance; and

a second load impedance coupled across the second power converter output such that the second voltage is across the second load impedance, wherein the first means manages current through the first load impedance and the second means manages current through the second load impedance.

10. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes circuitry to employ at least one of constant frequency pulse width modulation (PWM), variable frequency PWM, or on/off control.

11. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor coupled to charge to a voltage approximately equal to the sum of the first and second voltages, wherein the signal received at the terminal of the control circuit is generated in response to the voltage on the capacitor.

12. The power converter of claim 11, wherein the capacitor includes a terminal coupled to the switch and another terminal coupled between the first power converter output and the terminal of the control circuit.