Sub-resonant series resonant converter having improved form factor and

Abstract

An improved sub-resonant converter which retains the advantages generally associated with simple series resonant converters while additionally providing improved form factor and efficiency, and reducing EMI. The overall tank circuit includes at least a first inductor and first capacitor connected in series, a second capacitor connected in parallel with the load circuit, and a second inductor connected in parallel with the second capacitor for providing voltage boost capability. In addition to reducing dv/dt in the load circuit, the second capacitor draws a current that has the effect of reducing the form factor of the supplied current while shortening the negative portion of its cycle so that reverse current through the anti-parallel diode of one switching device is terminated, or nearly so, by the turn on of the next switching device, thereby reducing EMI associated with a rapid initial rise in current at such turn on. In a preferred embodiment, the tank circuit also includes a third inductor connected in parallel with the first capacitor to narrow the switching frequency range, thereby extending the above-described form factor and EMI improvements over the entire load range of the converter. In addition, the tank circuit is preferably coupled to the load circuit via an isolation transformer.