Synchronous Rectifier
AssigneeThomson Licensing
InventorWilliam Vincent Fitzgerald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed embodiments relate to apparatus and method for reducing power losses in a power supply. There is provided an apparatus comprising means (214) for coupling a first signal (S2) to a reference level (ground) when the coupling means is conductive, means (202, 204) for placing the coupling means in a conductive state during a duration of a portion of a period of a second signal (S3), and means (206) for altering the duration of conduction of the coupling means in response to an amplitude of the second signal.
Claims22
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first device (214) configured to couple a first signal (S2) to a reference level (ground) when said first device (214) is made conductive;
- a second device (202,204) responsive to a second signal (S3), said second device (202,204) configured to control conduction of said first device during a portion of a period of said second signal;
- and
- a detector (206) responsive to an amplitude of said second signal (S3), said detector configured to alter a duration of conduction of said first device (214).
A method, comprising the steps of:
- coupling a first signal (S2) to a reference level (ground) by conduction of a device (214);
- differentiating a second signal (S3);
- controlling conduction of said device (214) in response to said differentiated second signal;
- and
- altering conduction of said device (214) in response to an amplitude of said second signal (S3).
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first source (124) of a first signal (S2) and a second source (122) of a second signal (S3), said first signal (S2) and said second signal (S3) being of different phases;
- a transistor (214) having a first main current conducting terminal (drain) and a second main current conduction terminal (source) and a conduction control terminal (gate), said first main current conduction terminal connected to said first signal (S2) and said second main conduction terminal connected to a reference level (ground);
- a capacitor (202), a first terminal of which is connected to said second signal and a second terminal of which is connected to said conduction control terminal;
- a resistor (204), a first terminal of which is connected to said conduction control terminal and a second terminal of which is connected to said reference level;
- and
- a diode (206), a cathode of which is connected to said second signal (S3) and an anode of which is connected to said conduction control terminal.
An apparatus comprising:
- means (214) for coupling a first signal (S2) to a reference level (ground) when said coupling means is conductive;
- means (202,204) for placing said coupling means in a conductive state during a duration of a portion of a period of a second signal (S3);
- and
- means (206) for altering said duration of conduction of said coupling means in response to an amplitude of said second signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.