Power Integrations, Inc.

Other

Adrian Kirilov Lefedjiev

Antonius Jacobus Johannes Werner

Matthew David Waterson

Manoj Bhasin

Toine Werner

Roumen D Petkov

David L Stanley

Michael J Leisten

Stefan T Hadjivassilev

A method of dynamically adjusting a storage time of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in a switched mode power converter during a switching cycle includes generating a storage time reference signal responsive to an input voltage signal. A collector off signal is generated responsive to a comparison of a current sense signal to a collector off reference threshold signal. The current sense signal is representative of a switch current of the BJT. A base off reference threshold signal is generated responsive to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal. A base off signal is generated responsive to a comparison of the current sense signal and the base off reference threshold signal. Charging of a base terminal of the BJT is discontinued responsive to the base off signal, and the base terminal of the BJT is discharged responsive to the collector off signal.

BJT driver with dynamic adjustment of storage time versus input line voltage variations

A controller for a power converter includes a driver circuit that generates a control signal to switch a power switch in response to an output, and a control circuit that controls the switching of the power switch. The control circuit includes a storage time reference circuit generates a storage time reference signal responsive to an input. A first comparator generates a collector off signal in response to a comparison of a switch current sense signal and a collector off reference signal. A storage time regulator circuit generates a base off reference signal in response to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal. A second comparator generates a base off signal in response to a second comparison of the switch current sense signal and the base off reference signal. The driver circuit is coupled to discontinue and start charging a base terminal of the BJT power switch.

A controller for a use with a power converter includes a sensor coupled to sense a signal on a secondary side of the power converter. The sensor is coupled to detect a turn off of a power switch on a primary side of the power converter. A charge source is coupled to charge a control terminal of a synchronous rectifier on the secondary side of the power converter in response to said detection of the turn off of the power switch to a voltage beyond a threshold voltage of the synchronous rectifier to allow the synchronous rectifier to conduct a current of the secondary winding. A linear amplifier having an output is coupled to sink current from the control terminal of the synchronous rectifier in response to a difference between a voltage across the synchronous rectifier and an amplifier reference value.

Synchronous rectification

A power converter controller includes a storage time reference circuit to generate a storage time reference signal in response to an input voltage signal. A first comparator generates a collector off signal in response to a current sense signal of a BJT and a collector off reference threshold signal. A storage time regulator circuit generates a base off reference threshold signal in response to the storage time reference signal and the collector off signal. A second comparator generates a base off signal in response to the current sense signal and a base off reference threshold signal. A driver circuit controls switching of the BJT in response to an output voltage signal, discontinues charging a base terminal of the BJT in response to the base off signal, and starts discharging the base terminal of the BJT in response to the collector off signal during a switching cycle of the BJT.

A switched mode power converter (SMPC) has an isolation transformer for power transfer and a communication circuit for data communication between the primary side and the secondary side. The SMPC includes a primary switch controller configured to transfer power from a primary side to a secondary side by controlling a primary switch ON for an ON time period and then controlling the primary switch OFF for an OFF time period. The primary switch controller controls the ON time period of the subsequent power transfer cycle to start a time delay after the end of the OFF time period of the previous power transfer cycle. The communication circuit comprises a magnetically coupled transmission winding and reception winding, a communication switch, and a communication controller to control the communication switch to allow charge flow through the transmission winding during at least part of the time delay for data communication.

Transformer communication system

This invention generally relates to synchronous rectifier controllers for an SMPS. One controller comprises: a sensor to sense a signal on a secondary side, to detect turn off of the switch; a charge source to, in response to a said detection, charge a control terminal of the rectifier to a voltage beyond a threshold voltage of the synchronous rectifier to allow the synchronous rectifier to conduct current of the secondary winding; and a linear amplifier having an output to sink current from the control terminal dependent on a difference between a voltage across the synchronous rectifier and an amplifier reference value, said voltage across the synchronous rectifier being a voltage across a controllable conduction path for current of the secondary winding, the linear amplifier to inhibit discharge of the control terminal from the voltage beyond the threshold voltage until the voltage across the synchronous rectifier reaches the amplifier reference value.

In one embodiment, a solid state DC power supply includes an inverter (30) having two half-bridges (32, 34) in which are provided pairs of MOSFETS (Q5-Q12) used as switching elements. An output transformer (60) and a rectifier (85) are connected to output terminals (T60). A feedback path includes switching control means (40) separate primary and secondary drive means (10, 20) supplying drive pulses to the switching means (Q5-Q12) in the inverter (30). The secondary drive means (12, 13) amplifies the pulse output of the primary drive means (11) in order to improve the switching speed of the inverter (30). Current detection is provided by a transformer (70) connected to switching (40). The primary and secondary drive means receive pulses from a pulse width modulator (IC5) the output of which is isolated by transformers (TX1, TX2). In a modification, a power converter in the form of a DC power supply includes parallel MOSFET (M) and IGBT (I) switch pairs in each arm of a full wave bridge configuration. The IGBT (I) has lower conduction loss and higher switching loss than the MOSFET (M) so that, when appropriately timed driving pulses are applied, the IGBT (I) carries current in most of a conduction period and the MOSFET (M) switches off whilst a low voltage is maintained across the IGBT (I). This reduces conduction and switching losses to a minimum.

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Gamlingay, United Kingdom

Adrian Kirilov Lefedjiev