Phase controlled discharging of internal capacitive element of power supply circuit
AssigneeInfineon Technologies Austria AG
InventorsMartin Feldtkeller, Torsten Hinz, Jens Barrenscheen, Reinhard Mueller, Anthony Sanders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power supply circuit is equipped with a converter circuit configured to convert an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal. A control circuit for the power supply circuit is configured to detect a phase of the alternating current signal and to control discharging of an internal capacitive element of the power supply circuit based on the detected phase of the alternating current signal.
Claims35
A control circuit for a power supply circuit having a converter circuit configured to convert an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal, the power supply circuit comprising an internal capacitive element coupled to at least an input or output of the power supply circuit, and
- the control circuit being configured to:
- detect a phase of the alternating current signal;
- and
- based on the detected phase, control discharging of the internal capacitor,
- wherein the control circuit is configured to synchronize sensing of the alternating current signal with expected zero crossings of the alternating current signal,
- wherein the sensing of the alternating current signal comprises:
- in a first time interval in which a zero crossing of the alternating current signal is expected, coupling a sense resistor to the input of the power supply circuit;
- and
- in a second time interval in which no zero crossing of the alternating current signal is expected, decoupling the sense resistor from the input of the power supply circuit.
A method of controlling a power supply circuit, the method comprising:
- converting an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal having a lower voltage level than the alternating current signal;
- detecting a phase of the alternating current signal;
- and
- based on the detected phase, controlling discharging of an internal capacitive element of the power supply circuit,
- wherein detecting the phase of the alternating current signal comprises monitoring zero crossings of the alternating current signal,
- wherein the monitoring of the zero crossings of the alternating current signal comprises:
- in a first time interval in which a zero crossing of the alternating current signal is expected, coupling a sense resistor to the input of the power supply circuit;
- and
- in a second time interval in which no zero crossing of the alternating current signal is expected, decoupling the sense resistor from the input of the power supply circuit.
A control circuit for a power supply circuit having a converter circuit configured to convert an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal, the power supply circuit comprising an internal capacitive element coupled to at least an input or output of the power supply circuit, and
- the control circuit being configured to:
- detect a phase of the alternating current signal;
- and
- based on the detected phase, control discharging of the internal capacitor,
- wherein the internal capacitive element comprises a filter capacitor coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal of the input of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the control circuit is configured to trigger discharging of the filter capacitor in response to not detecting an expected zero crossing of the alternating current signal.
A control circuit for a power supply circuit having a converter circuit configured to convert an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal, the power supply circuit comprising an internal capacitive element coupled to at least an input or output of the power supply circuit, and
- the control circuit being configured to:
- detect a phase of the alternating current signal;
- and
- based on the detected phase, control discharging of the internal capacitor,
- wherein the converter circuit is configured to provide the direct current signal to an output of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the internal capacitive element comprises a capacitive element between a terminal of the output of the power supply circuit and an internal ground of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the control circuit is configured to trigger discharging of the capacitive element between the terminal of the output of the power supply circuit and the internal ground of the power supply circuit in multiple distinct time intervals arranged between a minimum value and a zero crossing of the alternating current signal.
A method of controlling a power supply circuit, the method comprising:
- converting an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal having a lower voltage level than the alternating current signal;
- detecting a phase of the alternating current signal;
- and
- based on the detected phase, controlling discharging of an internal capacitive element of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the internal capacitive element comprises a filter capacitor coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal of the input of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the method further comprises:
- triggering discharging of the filter capacitor in response to not detecting an expected zero crossing of the alternating current signal.
A method of controlling a power supply circuit, the method comprising:
- converting an alternating current signal applied at an input of the power supply circuit into a direct current signal having a lower voltage level than the alternating current signal;
- detecting a phase of the alternating current signal;
- and
- based on the detected phase, controlling discharging of an internal capacitive element of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the direct current signal is provided to an output of the power supply circuit,
- wherein the internal capacitive element comprises a capacitor between a terminal of the output of the power supply circuit and an internal ground of the power supply circuit,
- the method further comprising:
- triggering discharging of the capacitor between the terminal of the output of the power supply circuit and the internal ground of the power supply circuit in multiple distinct time intervals arranged between a minimum value and a zero crossing of the alternating current signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.