# US 2014/0152271 A1 · Power factor correction apparatus and method for correcting power factor using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152271 A1 - Document ID: US20140152271A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/862,131 - Filed: 2013-04-12 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: In Wha JEONG; Bum Seok SUH; Kwang Soo KIM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152271A1 ## CPC - H02M 1/4225: {using a non-isolated boost converter} - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - H02M 7/066: {particular circuits having a special characteristic} - H02M 3/1584: {with a plurality of power processing stages connected in parallel} - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract There are provided a power factor correction device and a method for controlling power factor correction using the same. The power factor correction device includes a power factor correction circuit and a control circuit. The power factor correction circuit includes first and second inductors connected to an input power source stage and first and second main switches performing a switching operation on the first and second inductors, respectively. The control circuit may provide control signals to the first and second main switches, respectively, and when phase currents flowing in the respective first and second inductors are unbalanced, the control circuit may change a phase of at least one of the first and second main switches to correct an imbalance of the phases. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power factor correction device comprising: a power factor correction circuit including first and second inductors connected to an input power source stage and first and second main switches performing a switching operation on the first and second inductors, respectively; and a control circuit providing control signals to the first and second main switches, respectively, and changing a phase of at least one of the first and second main switches to correct an imbalance of phase currents flowing in the respective first and second inductor when the phases are unbalanced. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power factor correction device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises: an imbalance detection unit detecting whether the phase currents of the first and second inductors are unbalanced; and a compensation signal generation unit generating a control signal by delaying a phase of at least one of the first and second main switches to make the phase currents of the first and second inductors balanced, when the phases are unbalanced. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power factor correction device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit further comprises a control signal generation unit generating the control signal to have a pre-set phase difference when the phases are not unbalanced. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power factor correction device of claim 1, wherein when the difference between the first and second inductor currents is within certain range, the control circuit determines that the phases of the first and second inductors are not unbalanced. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power factor correction device of claim 1, wherein the power factor correction circuit comprises: first and second inductors having one ends connected to the input power source stage and the other ends connected to a load stage, the first and second inductors being connected to each other in parallel; and first and second main switches switching the first and second inductors to have a phase difference, according to the control signal provided by the control circuit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The power factor correction device of claim 5, wherein the first and second inductors accumulate or discharge power provided by the input power source stage according to switching operations of the first and second main switches, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The power factor correction device of claim 5, wherein the power factor correction circuit further comprises first and second auxiliary switches forming a transmission path for surplus power existing in the circuit before the first and second main switches are turned on. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power factor correction device of claim 7, wherein the power factor correction circuit further comprises first and second auxiliary inductors connected to the first and second auxiliary switches and accumulating or discharging the surplus power according to a switching operation of the first and second auxiliary switches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The power factor correction device of claim 7, wherein the first and second auxiliary switches perform a switching operation in advance before the first and second main switches perform a switching operation, and complete the switching operation after the turn-on switching of the first and second main switches is completed, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The power factor correction device of claim 5, wherein the power factor correction circuit further comprises: first and second reverse current preventing diodes connected in parallel to the first and second main switches and preventing reverse currents in the first and second main switches, respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The power factor correction device of claim 5, wherein the power factor correction circuit further comprises: a first diode providing a transmission path for power discharged from the first inductor according to a switching operation of the first main switch; and a second diode providing a transmission path for power discharged from the second inductor according to a switching operation of the second main switch. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling power factor correction, performed by a control circuit controlling a power factor correction circuit including first and second inductors connected in parallel and first and second main switches performing switching operation on the first and second inductors, the method comprising: comparing phase currents flowing in the first and second inductors to determine whether the phases are unbalanced; and when the phases are unbalanced, delaying a phase of any one of the first and second main switches such that the phase currents of the first and second inductors are balanced. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the determining of whether the phases are unbalanced comprises: when the difference between the first and second inductor currents is within certain range, determining that the phases are not unbalanced. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the delaying of a phase comprises: when the difference between the first and second inductor currents is above certain range, delaying a phase of any one of the currents of the first and second inductors such that the phases are closely balanced. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: when the phases are not unbalanced, providing a control signal having a pre-set phase difference applied in a balanced state.