Power supply apparatus for an electrical appliance

• US 9,673,714 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Aiello, Natale, Zoppi, Giulio, Larosa, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAJNIKANT B
• Application Number:
  US14/693,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20150229222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 363 16, 363 17, 363 2107, 363 2108, 363 2112, 363 1217, 363 2118, 363202, 363 21051, 398202, 307125, 307234
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0006 Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• 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

A power supply apparatus includes a power supply circuit and a power-on circuit. The power-on circuit detects a remotely transmitted control signal and causes a transition of the power supply circuit to a turned on state. The power-on circuit includes a transducer configured to provide a power-on signal in response to the remote control signal. The transducer triggers transition to the turned on state through a switch driven by the power-on signal output from the transducer and arranged to supply a power supply circuit enable signal. A DC blocking capacitor is connected between an output of the transducer and a control terminal of the switch.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an infrared sensing circuit configured to generate an enable signal in response to receipt of an infrared control signal; and

a power supply circuit having an input coupled to receive said enable signal, said power supply circuit configured to generate a supply voltage;

wherein said infrared sensing circuit comprises;

a photodiode having an output;

a switch having a control terminal coupled to the photodiode output and a first conduction terminal configured to supply said enable signal;

a zener diode coupled between the control terminal of the switch and the first conduction terminal; and

a DC blocking capacitor coupled between the photodiode output and the control terminal of the switch.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resistor coupled between a second conduction terminal of the switch and a voltage supply line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said resistor is configured to limit current delivered through said enable signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a resistive voltage divider coupled between the photodiode output and a reference voltage node;

a transistor having a control terminal coupled to a tap node of the resistive voltage divider, a first conduction terminal coupled to the photodiode output and a second conduction terminal coupled to the reference voltage node.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the DC blocking capacitor is coupled between the first conduction terminal of the transistor and the control terminal of the switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a resistor coupled between the photodiode output and a reference voltage node.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said zener diode is configured to limit the potential applied to the control terminal of said switch.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a remote signal sensing circuit comprising;

a sensor configured to sense a remote control signal and generate an enable signal current at an output in response thereto;

a switch having a control terminal coupled to the sensor output and a first conduction terminal configured to supply an enable signal in response to receipt of the remote control signal;

a zener diode coupled between the control terminal of the switch and the first conduction terminal; and

a DC blocking capacitor coupled between the sensor output and the control terminal of the switch; and

a power supply circuit having an input coupled to receive said enable signal, said power supply circuit configured to generate a supply voltage in response to said enable signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a photodiode and the remote control signal is a light signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a resistor coupled between a second conduction terminal of the switch and a voltage supply line.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said resistor is configured to limit current delivered through said enable signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a resistive voltage divider coupled between the sensor output and a reference voltage node;

a transistor having a control terminal coupled to a tap node of the resistive voltage divider, a first conduction terminal coupled to the sensor output and a second conduction terminal coupled to the reference voltage node.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the DC blocking capacitor is coupled between the first conduction terminal of the transistor and the control terminal of the switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a resistor coupled between the sensor output and a reference voltage node.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said zener diode is configured to limit the potential applied to the control terminal of said switch.