Synchronized array power oscillator with leg inductors
AssigneeContinental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
InventorsPerry Czimmek, Mike Hornby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic high frequency induction heater driver, for a variable spray fuel injection system, uses a scalable array of zero-voltage switching oscillators that utilize full and half-bridge topology with inductors between semiconductor switches wherein the semiconductor switches are synchronous within each bridge for function, and each bridge is synchronized for function along the entire array. The induction heater driver, upon receipt of a turn-on signal, multiplies a supply voltage through a self-oscillating series resonance, wherein one component of each tank resonator circuit comprises an induction heater coil magnetically coupled to an appropriate loss component so that fuel inside a fuel component is heated to a desired temperature.
Claims7
A synchronized array power oscillator for an electronic induction heater driver, the synchronized array power oscillator comprising:
- an expandable array of bridge circuit topology comprising high-side and low-side semiconductor switches;
- a resonant tank circuit electrically connected between legs of the bridge in the topological location of a conventional H-bridge load, wherein the resonant tank circuit includes at least one induction heater coil;
- at least two leg inductors, each electrically in series with an adjacent high-side switch and low-side switch within the bridges;
- wherein bridge switch timing is determined by a synchronized frequency of resonant tank circuits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.