System and method for wideband phase-adjustable common excitation
AssigneeAdvanced Energy Industries, Inc.
InventorsJeff Roberg, Steve Jordan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power generator system and apparatus that uses a frequency synthesizer in conjunction with an oscillator to lock both frequency of a drive signal with a reference signal. The oscillator center frequency is different from the nominal generator frequency, and as a consequence a variety of reference frequencies may be supported. By using a frequency synthesizer, the oscillator frequency can be locked onto a frequency that is a ratio of the reference frequency. Then, the frequency synthesizer may generate a drive signal that is closely matched to the reference frequency.
Claims20
A power generator capable of being driven by a reference signal having a predetermined frequency, the power generator comprising:
- a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to deliver a signal having a frequency that varies in response to a provided voltage signal;
- a frequency generator, coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator, configured to receive the signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator, configured to receive the reference signal and to receive a power signal, the frequency generator further configured to generate a waveform that is delivered to drive a power generation circuit that generates the power signal;
- a frequency comparator, coupled to the voltage-controlled oscillator, configured to receive the reference signal and to receive the signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator, and also configured to adjust the frequencies of the reference signal and the signal delivered by the voltage-controlled oscillator, wherein the adjustments are made to correlate the reference signal and the signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator, and wherein the frequency comparator is also configured to detect differences in frequency between the frequency-adjusted signals of the voltage-controlled oscillator and the reference signal, and wherein the frequency comparator is also configured to deliver the provided voltage signal to the voltage-controlled oscillator.
A method for locking a drive signal of a power generator with a reference signal, the method comprising:
- initializing a common excitation mode of operation;
- measuring a frequency of a reference signal;
- assessing whether the measured frequency of the reference signal is within a predetermined range of frequencies;
- if the measured frequency is not within the predetermined range of frequencies, then re-initializing the common excitation mode of operation;
- if the measured frequency is within the predetermined range of frequencies, then calculating values for dividers of a plurality of frequency adjusters, calculating a frequency tune word for a frequency synthesizer, and calculating frequency calibration coefficients for frequency measurements;
- assessing whether the drive signal is synchronized with the reference signal;
- if the drive signal is not synchronized with the reference signal, then returning to measuring the frequency of the reference signal;
- if the drive signal is synchronized with the reference signal, then operating in common excitation mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.