US 11,081,964 B2Granted

Output-side controller with switching request at relaxation ring extremum

AssigneePower Integrations, Inc.

InventorsBalu Balakrishnan, David Michael Hugh Matthews, Vikram Balakrishnan, Roland Sylvere Saint-Pierre, Zhao-Jun Wang, Giao Minh Pham, Qing McIntosh

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Abstract

A method of providing an input switching request signal to an input side switch includes determining a switching request window indicative of relaxation ringing during a first switching cycle. It is determined that the input side switch is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) mode of operation during a second switching cycle. It is determined that the switching request window is open during the second switching cycle. The input switching request signal is enabled in response to determining the switching request window is open.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of providing an input switching request signal to an input side switch, the method comprising:

determining a switching request window indicative of an extremum of relaxation ringing during a first switching cycle, wherein the switching request window is utilized to enable communication of the input switching request signal, wherein determining the switching request window further comprises:
comparing a winding voltage to an output voltage;
charging a capacitor while the winding voltage is greater than the output voltage;
reading a reference voltage from the capacitor;
generating a second reference voltage from the reference voltage;
comparing the winding voltage to the output voltage;
charging the capacitor to provide a capacitor voltage while the winding voltage is greater than the output voltage;
and
comparing the second reference voltage to the capacitor voltage;
determining the input side switch is operating in a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) mode of operation during a second switching cycle;
determining that the switching request window is open during the second switching cycle;
and
enabling the communication of the input switching request signal in response to determining that the switching request window is open.

10 more elements

A method of controlling a power converter having an input side and an output side, the method comprising:

measuring an output side signal during a first switching cycle of an input side switch, wherein the output side signal is a winding voltage;
generating a signal indicative of relaxation ringing from the output side signal during the first switching cycle, wherein generating the signal indicative of relaxation ringing further comprises:
charging a capacitor to provide a capacitor voltage during a top half ring interval whereby an output voltage is less than the winding voltage;
reading the capacitor voltage at an end of the top half ring interval;
and
storing at least one reference voltage derived from the capacitor voltage at the end of the top half ring interval;
measuring the output side signal during a second switching cycle;
determining a switching request window is open using the signal indicative of relaxation ringing, wherein the switching request window is indicative of an extremum of relaxation ringing and is utilized to enable communication of turning on an input side switch on the input side of the power converter;
and
enabling the input side switch to turn on in response to determining the switching request window is open.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/155,734Filed 9 Oct 2018 · continuation
Priority: 21 Oct 2014
Published: US 2019/0044448 A17 Feb 2019
Granted: 3 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H02M 3/33507
Using semiconductor devices only: with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters
H02M 3/33592
Having at least one active switching element at the secondary side of an isolation transformer: having a synchronous rectifier circuit or a…
H02M 1/0054
Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses: transistor switching losses
Y02B 70/10
Technologies for an efficient end-user side electric power management and consumption: technologies improving the efficiency by using…

Family

Application14/520,142Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Oct 2014
Application15/649,458Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jul 2017
US 9,742,288 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Aug 2017
US 2019/0044448 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Feb 2019
US 10,128,763 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0111961 A1Published application
US 2017/0310225 A1Published application
US 11,081,964 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.