Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

John M Rein

Jeffrey C Perkins

Neils A Kruse

Robert M Zawislak

Earl James Copple

Kenneth John King

Robert H Zawislak

Sam James Cicero

Robert E Clem

Steve Wayne Enot

A current mode controller for a series resonant power converter having a primary current, a conduction time and a pulse width modulator controller is disclosed. The current mode controller having a current ramp generator in electrical communication with the primary current and being operative to generate a current ramp having a voltage proportional to the primary current. A voltage ramp generator is in electrical communication with the power converter and operative to generate a voltage ramp. The current mode controller further includes a multiplier in electrical communication with the current ramp generator and the voltage ramp generator. The multiplier being operative to generate a time-dependent current ramp having an amplitude proportional to the conduction period of the power converter. A limited voltage ramp generator operative to generate a limited voltage ramp is in electrical communication with the voltage ramp generator. In this respect, the current mode controller further includes an adder in electrical communication with the limited voltage ramp generator and the multiplier and operative to generate a controlling ramp proportional to the limited voltage ramp and the time-dependent current ramp. As such, the adder is in electrical communication with the pulse width modulator controller such that the controlling ramp controls the conduction period of the power converter.

Time compensated current ramp for resonant power converters

A high efficiency power converter for generating a high voltage from a low voltage supply. The power converter includes a resonant circuit in electrical communication with the low voltage supply via a switch. The power converter further includes a control circuit in electrical communication with the switch and a resonant inductor of the resonant circuit. The control circuit is operative to open and close the switch in response to the current flowing through the resonant inductor. A transformer is connected parallel to the resonant inductor and is operative to generate the high output voltage from the voltage of the resonant inductor. In the preferred embodiment, the switch is closed at the point in time when the current in the resonant inductor passes zero. At this time, switching conditions within the switch are ideal such that any losses experienced by the switch are conduction losses thereby resulting in improved efficiency of the power converter.

High efficiency, low voltage to high voltage power converter

A transformer that prevents breakage of the wire leads thereof. The transformer comprising a generally cylindrical bobbin having a plurality of windings wrapped therearound. Each of the windings has a respective first and second end. Attached to an end of the bobbin is a bobbin endplate having a plurality of first and second end lead breakouts disposed thereon. Accordingly, respective ones of the first ends are attached to respective first end lead breakouts and respective ones of the second ends are attached to respective second end lead breakouts in order to prevent breakage of the windings.

High voltage transformer

An apparatus and method are disclosed for regulating a high voltage DC supply derived from a plurality of unstable high voltage signals. The invention functions to derive a high voltage DC signal from a received unstable high voltage signals. A derived signal is modulated and communicated to a series resonant regulation circuit by varying the operating frequency of the modulation device, while maintaining a fixed pulsed width full duty cycle operation, the output signal is translated in relation to the resonant frequency of the series resonant circuit, causing corresponding variations in the output voltage level.

Power conditioning for remotely mounted microwave power amplifier

A square wave power inverter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, first and second input voltage sources, and a pair of power switching transistors connected series between the first and second voltage sources for selectively connecting the first and second input voltage sources to the primary winding of the transformer. A pair of output terminals is connected to the secondary winding of the transformer for receiving a load. An inverter control is connected to the gates of the switching transistors for generating a gate drive signal. The inverter control generates a low impedance, substantially square wave, gate drive signal, producing a substantially square wave inverter output when a substantial load is connected to the output terminals, and a high impedance gate drive signal, producing a trapezoidal inverter output when a light load is connected to the output terminals. In particular, the inverter control is connected to the output terminals, and produces low impedance drive signal when the voltage at the output terminals is below a predetermined threshold, and high impedance drive signals when the voltage at the output terminals is above the predetermined threshold. The inverter control includes a low impedance gate drive that is connected to the gates of the switching transistors when a substantial load is connected to the output terminals, and a higher impedance gate drive that is connected to the gates of the switching transistors when a light load is connected to the output terminals.

Shifted drive inverter for multiple loads

A dual-multivibrator circuit using a pair of mutually triggering multivibrator sections is connected to operate in a free-running mode when no external synchronization signal is applied to the circuit input, and in synchronism with a master pulse train of substantially the same pulse repetition rate when such a master pulse train is applied to the circuit input.

Synchronizable power supply oscillator

A single-stage modular modulator for pulsed illumination sources uses a full-range converter which converts unregulated DC to a 40-50 kHz carrier modulated at a frequency of a few hundred to a few thousand hertz. The modulated carrier is applied to the illumination source through a step-down transformer followed by a low-pass filter circuit which removes the carrier. The converter is controlled by a modulation control which uses an instantaneous load current signal feedback to follow a modulation commend signal, and a current mode signal representing the primary current of the transformer to compensate for converter output variations caused by input voltage variations.

Growing community of inventors

Elgin, IL, United States of America

John M Rein