Lucent Technologies Inc.

Innoveta Technologies, Inc.

Tdk-lambda Corporation

At&t Bell Laboratories

Tyco Electronics Logistics Ag

Other

At+t Corp.

Jeffrey John Boylan

Allen Frank Rozman

Mark E Jacobs

Jin He

Carl M Wildrick

Sun-Wen Cyrus Cheng

Richard H Hock

Gary Robert Kidwell

Li Li

Vijayan J Thottuvelil

Qing Chen

Kenneth J Timm

Victor Ke-Ji Lee

Lennart Daniel Pitzele

Gordon K Y Lee

Randy Thomas Heinrich

Del Hilburn

Thomas P Loftus, Jr

Timothy Richard Fellows

A multi-level voltage regulator system/method providing discrete regulation of a DC-DC intermediate bus converter (IBC) output voltage (Vout) is disclosed. The disclosed system/method allows IBC Vout to be regulated in discrete steps during periods where IBC input voltage (Vin) falls below nominal operating values. Rather than shutting down or degrading IBC Vout in an unpredictable non-linear fashion based on IBC input/loading, IBC Vout is regulated in fixed discrete steps, allowing IBC-connected point-of-load (POL) converters to obtain stable power input that is well-defined over IBC Vin. IBC operating parameters may define multi-dimensional operational state spaces of IBC Vout regulation that ensure optimum power flow to attached POLs while maintaining operational stability within the IBC regulator. Instabilities in IBC/POL performance across variations in IBC Vin, load transients, POL loading, and environmental variables may be prevented using Vin voltage step hysteresis.

State space-based multi-level voltage regulator system

Multi-level voltage regulator system

The present invention provides a configurable dc-dc power converter module and method of manufacture for such module. The power converter module comprises an isolated subassembly with a capacitor bank, control circuits and an isolated power train that converts an input voltage to an intermediate bus voltage. The power module further comprises multiple non-isolated power trains electrically coupled to the isolated subassembly that are powered by the intermediate bus voltage to produce output voltages. The number of output voltages is determined by the number of populated non-isolated power trains, which may include all of the non-isolated power trains in the power module or a subset thereof. In one embodiment of the invention the non-isolated power trains are located on a carrier PWB that is electrically coupled to the bus PWB.

Configurable distributed power module

The improved DC-DC converter apparatus includes a primary side circuit and a secondary side circuit that is galvanically isolated from the primary. The primary side induces a voltage in the secondary side that provides an output voltage for driving POLs. A controller in the primary senses a reflected output voltage signal that is coupled from the secondary and is proportional to the secondary output voltage with respect to a voltage regulation point determined by either a voltage divider circuit or the zener voltage in the secondary. The voltage regulation point is established by wide-tolerance electrical components, such as a zener diode, a resistor, or a combination, connected in the coupling device circuit.

Loosely regulated feedback control for high efficiency isolated DC-DC converters

The present invention provides a DC-DC power converter that comprises two or more Printed Wiring Boards (PWB) mounted parallel to one another and without encapsulation. Electronic components can be mounted on both sides of each board. The open design and parallel orientation of the PWBs allow airflow over components mounted on the PWBs. The PWBs are preferable made of FR-4 with copper foils, with one thicker board being comprised of more copper layers and the other boards comprised of less copper layers. In the preferred embodiment, the power processing elements are housed in the thicker PWB, while the thinner boards house the control circuitry.

Multiple-board power converter

The adapter couples a power module to a circuit board. An adapter embodying the present invention can be configured to allow the connection of any power module regardless of pin out to any circuit board. Signal modifying circuitry can also be added to the adapter to enhance or simply modify the signal to the end user's circuit board. The modifying circuitry can act on either the input to the adapter or the output from the adapter. At least one conductive path couples the input interconnects and the output interconnects.

Power module adapter

Converter

An apparatus, system, and method to offer either independent output adjustment or tracking output voltages in a post regulated converter is provided. A new resistor divider and reference structure is introduced, which offers simplicity and low parts count in achieving the two different output voltage adjustment functions. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator includes a plurality of output voltage pins, a plurality of independent trim pins, a tracking trim adjust pin, a plurality of voltage error pins, a reference voltage supply; and a plurality of operational amplifiers. The plurality of output voltage pins are coupled to a first input and an output of the operational amplifiers. The reference voltage supply is coupled a second input of each of the operational amplifiers. The tracking trim adjust pin is coupled to the first input of each of the operational amplifiers. The independent trim pins are coupled to the second input of the operational amplifiers and the voltage error pins are coupled to the output of the operational amplifiers.

Tracking or independent output voltage adjustment for multiple output supplies

A control scheme for a synchronous rectifier converter that avoids disabling the synchronous rectifiers entirely. Rather than disable the synchronous rectifier altogether to stop the flow of reverse current in light-load, startup, or shutdown conditions, the duty cycle of the synchronous rectifier is modified such that forward current is always allowed to flow through the synchronous rectifier, but the synchronous rectifier is turned off before the reverse current flow reaches a pre-determined level. This is accomplished by operating the converter in a partially synchronous mode of operation during light-load, startup, or shutdown conditions. Whether the circuit is in a light-load, startup, or shutdown condition is determined by a circuit characteristic of the converter that is sensed by the controller, such as average output current. The desired changeover point from fully-synchronous mode to the partially synchronous mode is set to a predetermined level of output current for the converter. The predetermined level is set based on the particular power system in which the invention is implemented. For example, this level can be based on the amount of reverse current that would disrupt the bus to which the converter output is connected, or it could be based on the heat created by the reverse current flow in the power converter when heat dissipation is a concern. The control scheme of the present invention effectively limits reverse current flow while also improving efficiency by eliminating the need for discrete diodes, yet retaining the benefits of synchronous rectification throughout the operating range of the converter.

Synchronous rectifier controller to eliminate reverse current flow in a DC/DC converter output

An architecture for a post regulator control circuit that utilizes an advance trigger signal to trigger the post regulator ramp. This advance trigger signal anticipates the beginning and end of a power cycle, and can be used to drive all of the secondary rectifier switches with optimal timing to minimize both cross conduction and body diode conduction. The architecture can be used to cascade an arbitrary number of post regulators. The present invention provides to the auxiliary outputs the full range of regulation available to the main output even in light load conditions. Rather than sensing the beginning or end of the power cycle, the present invention anticipates the beginning and end of the power cycle using the pulse train generated by the feedback loop for the main output. This allows the circuit to prepare the switches for the beginning of the power cycle and avoids problems encountered with inherent propagation delays in the circuit. Using the advance trigger signal, all of the switches may be driven with precise timing.

Post-regulated power supply

A local loop control system and method of operating the same for use with a power converter. The power converter includes a first output coupled to a first synchronous rectifier circuit and a second output coupled to a second synchronous rectifier circuit. The power converter employs a main controller configured to regulate a voltage proportional to a weighted sum of the first and go second outputs. In one embodiment, the local loop control system includes: (1) a first output controller configured to regulate a voltage at the first output and (2) a second output controller configured to regulate a voltage at the second output, one of the first and second output controllers configured to reduce a drive signal to a corresponding one of the first and second synchronous rectifier circuits when a corresponding voltage at one of the first and second outputs exceeds a voltage proportional to the weighted sum.

Local loop control system for a multiple output power converter

A system and method for determining an output current of a power converter having an output capacitor and a component coupled thereto. In one embodiment, the system includes (1) an observer circuit, parallel-coupled to the output capacitor, that senses a voltage across the output capacitor and develops therefrom a capacitor signal representing a current through the output capacitor, (2) a sensor circuit, coupled to the component, that senses a characteristic of the component and develops therefrom a component signal representing a current through the component and (3) a summer circuit, coupled to the observer and sensor circuits, that derives an output signal representing the output current from the capacitor signal and the component signal.

System and method for determining output current and converter employing the same

For use in a power system having a power train, a rectifier having an input and an output and a method of controlling the rectifier. The rectifier comprises: (1) switching circuitry coupled between the input and the output, the switching, circuitry adapted to operate in selected one of (a) a bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an unidirectional mode of operation to rectify substantially alternating current at the input to produce substantially direct current at the output; and (2) control circuitry coupled to a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing a characteristic of the power system and transitioning the switching circuitry between the bidirectional mode and the unidirectional mode as a function of the characteristic thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier.

Circuit and method for controlling a synchronous rectifier converter

For use with a switched-mode power converter having a modulator that develops a drive signal for a power switch, a compensation circuit, a method of compensating for a change in an output characteristic of the converter and a converter employing the circuit or the method. In one embodiment the compensation circuit includes (1) a sensor that senses the output characteristic and (2) a filter, coupled to the sensor, that develops an intermediate signal representing a change in the output characteristic. The modulator adjusts a switching period of the drive signal as a function of the intermediate signal thereby to decrease a reaction delay of the converter.

Compensation circuit method of operations thereof and converter

For use in a power system having a power train, a rectifier having an input and an output and a method of controlling the rectifier. The rectifier comprises: (1) switching circuitry coupled between the input and the output, the switching circuitry adapted to operate in selected one of (a) a bidirectional mode of operation and (b) an unidirectional mode of operation to rectify substantially alternating current at the input to produce substantially direct current at the output; and (2) control circuitry coupled to a control input of the switching circuitry, the control circuitry capable of sensing a characteristic of the power system and transitions the switching circuitry between the bidirectional mode and the unidirectional mode as a function of the characteristic thereby to prevent substantial reverse power flow through the rectifier.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Jeffrey John Boylan