AC-DC converter

• US 9,438,131 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Dong Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dole, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tiku, Sisay G
• Application Number:
  US13/687,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 363/50, 363/52, 363/53, 323282-283, 323/908
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/04 by static converters
• 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

An alternating current to direct current (AC-DC) converter is provided. The converter includes a rectifying unit configured to rectify an AC voltage that is being input, a boost converter unit connected to the rectifying unit and provided with a single inductor, a first switch, and a second switch formed thereto, a smoothing unit configured to smooth the voltage passing through the boost converter unit, and a control unit configured to control an ON/OFF of the first switch and the second switch such that the boost converter unit is operated as a power factor correction circuit or as an inrush current limiting circuit, so that the inrush current is stably controlled by reducing additional circuit structures configured for limiting an inrush current.

Claims

1. An alternating current to direct current (AC-DC), comprising:

a rectifying unit configured to rectify an AC voltage that is being input;

a boost converter unit connected to the rectifying unit and provided with a single inductor, a first switch, and a second switch formed thereto;

a smoothing unit configured to smooth the voltage passing through the boost converter unit; and

a control unit configured to control an ON/OFF control signal of the first switch and the second switch and control an ON/OFF of the first switch and the second switch such that the boost converter unit is operated as a power factor correction circuit or as an inrush current limiting circuit,

wherein the control unit comprises;

a power factor control block to generate an ON/OFF control signal of the first switch and the second switch such that the boost converter unit performs a power factor controlling mode that operates as the power factor correction circuit;

an inrush current control block to generate an ON/OFF control signal of the first switch and the second switch such that the boost converter unit performs an inrush current controlling mode that operates as the inrush current limiting circuit; and

a multiplexer to select one of the control signal generated through the power factor control block and the control signal generated through the inrush current control block, and to transmit the selected signal to the first switch and the second switch.

2. The AC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the inrush current control block comprises a first switch control signal generator to generate the ON/OFF control signal of the first switch, and a second switch control signal generator to generate the ON/OFF control signal of the second switch,

wherein the second switch control signal generator, comprises:

a reference signal generator configured to generate a reference signal that is increased in amplitude as time passes, and maintains a certain value in amplitude after a predetermined time is passed;

a carrier signal generator configured to generate a carrier signal in a shape of a triangular wave having a fixed frequency; and

a comparator configured to generate a control signal of the second switch by comparing the reference signal with the carrier signal.

3. The AC-DC converter of claim 2, wherein the inrush current control block further comprises a timer configured to generate a mode changing signal to change from the inrush current controlling mode to the power factor controlling mode if an established time is passed from a point of time when the reference signal is started with maintaining the certain value.

4. The AC-DC converter of claim 2, wherein when the inrush current controlling mode is being performed, the first switch control signal generator generates an OFF control signal of the first switch.

5. The AC-DC converter of claim 4, wherein when the inrush current controlling mode is being performed, the comparator at an inside the second switch control signal generator generates an ON control signal of the second switch if the reference signal is larger than the carrier signal, and if the reference signal is equal to or smaller than the carrier signal, the comparator at an inside the second switch control signal generator generates an OFF control signal of the second switch.

6. The AC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the inrush current control block comprises a first switch control signal generator to generate an ON/OFF control signal of the first switch, and a second switch control signal generator to generate an ON/OFF control signal of the second switch, and

wherein the second switch control signal generator, comprises:

a reference signal generator configured to generate a reference signal in a form of a step that maintains a predetermined value in amplitude, and changes to a certain value in amplitude after a predetermined time is passed;

a carrier signal generator configured to generate a carrier signal in a shape of a triangular wave having a variable frequency; and

a comparator configured to generate a control signal of the second switch by comparing the reference signal with the carrier signal.

7. The AC-DC converter of claim 6, wherein the inrush current control block further comprises a timer configured to generate a mode changing signal to change from the inrush current controlling mode to the power factor controlling mode if an established time is passed from a point of time when the reference signal is started changing to a value that is greater than the predetermined value.

8. The AC-DC converter of claim 6, wherein when the inrush current controlling mode is being performed, the first switch control signal generator generates an OFF control signal of the first switch.

9. The AC-DC converter of claim 8, wherein when the inrush current controlling mode is being performed, the comparator at an inside the second switch control signal generator generates an ON control signal of the second switch if the reference signal is larger than the carrier signal, and if the reference signal is equal to or smaller than the carrier signal, the comparator at an inside the second switch control signal generator generates an OFF control signal of the second switch.

10. The AC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein the rectifying unit is formed with a diode bridge.

11. The AC-DC converter of claim 1, wherein each of the first switch and the second switch is implemented using an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT).

12. A method to convert alternating current to direct current, comprising:

rectifying an input AC voltage;

generating an ON/OFF control signal to control a first switch and a second switch such that a boost converter unit performs a power factor controlling mode that operates as the power factor correction circuit;

generating an ON/OFF control signal of the first switch and the second switch such that the boost converter unit performs an inrush current controlling mode that operates as the inrush current limiting circuit;

selecting one of the control signal generated;

transmitting the selected signal to the first switch and the second switch;

controlling an ON/OFF of the first switch and the second switch based on the generated control signal received; and

smoothing the converted voltage.