# US 2014/0153291 A1 · Dual-mode, ac/dc power converter with power factor correction

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- Number: US 2014/0153291 A1
- Document ID: US20140153291A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/691,088
- Filed: 2012-11-30
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30
- Assignees: Atmel Corporation
- Inventors: Hong Zhang; Sean S. Chen; Dilip Sangam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153291A1

## CPC

- H02M 3/33507: {with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence)}
- H02M 1/4258: {using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of a regulated and galvanically isolated DC output voltage (H02M1/4241 takes precedence)}
- H05B 45/385: using flyback topology
- 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)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A dual-mode circuit for the control of an AC/DC power converter is disclosed. An example dual-mode controller circuit generates a waveform that drives a switch on or off and controls the power converter. The controller circuit in addition to power factor correction (PFC) circuitry includes a critical conducting mode (CrM) module as well as a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module configured to generate waveforms adapted for CrM and DCM operation of a power converter. The circuit includes a node for receiving a feedback signal of a voltage or a current. Based on the received signal, one of the modules is selected at a time to supply the waveform at the output of the dual-mode controller. An example of the output waveform is a series of pulses that are configured to drive the switch that controls the transfer of power between input and output of the power converter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dual-mode controller circuit comprising:
an output (GATE) node configured to generate an output waveform for driving a switch;
an integrator module adapted to receive a feedback signal of a voltage or a current and configured to generate a criterion voltage;
a critical conducting mode (CrM) module adapted to receive the criterion voltage and configured to generate a first output waveform;
a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module adapted to receive the criterion voltage and configured to generate a second output waveform; and
a selector coupled to the integrator and the CrM and the DCM modules, wherein the selector is adapted to receive the criterion voltage, and wherein based on the criterion voltage the selector is configured to select one of the CrM or the DCM modules, and wherein an output waveform of the selected module is coupled to the GATE node.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the CrM module is coupled to the integrator module, and wherein the first output waveform is adjusted by the criterion voltage and is configured for a CrM operation of a power converter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the DCM module is coupled to the integrator module, and wherein the second output waveform is adjusted by the criterion voltage and is configured for a DCM operation of a power converter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:
a threshold voltage coupled to the selector, wherein the selection of one of CrM or DCM modules includes comparing the criterion voltage with the threshold voltage, and wherein the selection includes a curve with hysteresis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the GATE node is coupled to a switch and drives the switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuit is a part of an integrated circuit incorporated in a chip.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The circuit of claim 6, wherein the circuit is added to a chip including a power factor correction circuitry.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first output waveform and the second output waveform are a series of pulses.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:
an on-time skew module, wherein the on-time skew module is configured to modify one of the first output waveform or the second output waveform, and wherein the modification includes a change of a time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The circuit of claim 9, wherein the on-time skew module modifies the first output waveform and the modification includes an increase of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The circuit of claim 9, wherein the on-time skew module modifies the second output waveform and the modification includes a reduction of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, wherein the dual-mode controller circuit is coupled to a power converter for output control.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The circuit of claim 12, wherein the power converter is an AC/DC power converter.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The circuit of claim 13, wherein the AC/DC power converter is an isolated AC/DC power converter.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:
a feedback (FB) node adapted to receive the feedback signal and coupled to a first input of the integrator, wherein a first reference signal of a voltage or a current is coupled to a second input of the integrator, and wherein the criterion voltage is an integral of a difference of the feedback signal and the first reference signal;
a compensation (COMP) node coupled to the integrator and adapted to receive the criterion voltage; and
a gate driver (DR) module coupled to the GATE node,
coupled to the CrM and the DCM modules,
adapted to receive the output waveform of the selected CrM or DCM module, and
configured to deliver a driving waveform at the GATE node.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The circuit of claim 15, wherein the integrator module is configured to amplify the difference of the feedback signal and the first reference signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The circuit of claim 15, wherein a compensating circuit including a capacitor is coupled between the COMP node and a ground.

### Claim 18

An isolated AC/DC power converter having a primary side ground and a secondary side ground, the power converter comprising:
a rectifier configured to rectify an alternating input voltage;
a transformer magnetically coupling a primary side and a secondary side of the power converter, the transformer including:
a primary winding coupled to the rectifier,
a secondary winding coupled to an output load;
a dual-mode primary controller having an output (GATE) node and an input node and configured for:
generating a first output waveform by a critical conducting mode (CrM) module,
generating a second output waveform by a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module,
receiving a feedback signal by the input node,
selecting one of the first output waveform or the second output waveform based on the received feedback signal, and
providing the selected output waveform at the GATE node;
a switch coupled to the GATE node and commanded by the selected output waveform of the dual-mode primary controller, the switch coupled between the primary winding of the transformer and a primary side ground and configured to control the flow of a current in the primary winding of the transformer; and
a secondary controller coupled to the output load and configured to generate an error voltage and supplying the error voltage as the feedback signal to the dual-mode primary controller.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The power converter of claim 18, further comprising a secondary regulation module coupled between the secondary controller and the dual-mode primary controller and configured to receive one or more of output parameters from the secondary controller and generate the feedback signal, the output parameters including:
an output current error,
an output voltage error,
an output current, and
an output voltage.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The power converter of claim 19, further comprising an auxiliary secondary winding of the transformer coupled to the secondary regulation module and configured to generate a signal proportional to the output voltage.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The power converter of claim 19, wherein the secondary controller and the secondary regulation module are optically coupled.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The power converter of claim 18, wherein the feedback signal is a direct proportional value to one or more output parameters including:
an output current error,
an output voltage error,
an output current, and
an output voltage.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The power converter of claim 18, further comprising:
an on-time skew module in the dual-mode primary controller, wherein the on-time skew module is configured to modify one of the first output waveform or the second output waveform, and wherein the modification includes a change of a time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The power converter of claim 23, wherein the on-time skew module of the dual-mode primary controller modifies the first output waveform and the modification includes an increase of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The power converter of claim 23, wherein the on-time skew module of the dual-mode primary controller modifies the second output waveform and the modification includes a reduction of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 26 (depends on 18)

The power converter of claim 18, wherein the switch is a transistor.

### Claim 27 (depends on 18)

The power converter of claim 18, wherein the rectifier is a diode bridge.

### Claim 28

A method of providing a waveform as an output of a dual-mode controller configured for driving a switch, the method comprising:
receiving a feedback signal of a voltage or a current at an input node of the dual-mode controller;
constructing a criterion voltage from the received feedback signal;
selecting, based on the criterion voltage, one of a critical conducting mode (CrM) module or a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module;
generating, based on the selected module, one of a first output waveform of the CrM module or a second output waveform of the DCM module; and
delivering the generated output waveform at an output of the dual-mode controller, where the method is performed by one of hardware processors or circuits.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the output of the dual-mode controller is coupled to a switch and drives the switch.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the switch is combined into the dual-mode controller and the combination is part of an integrated circuit incorporated in a converter chip.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein constructing the criterion voltage includes integrating a difference of the received feedback signal and a first reference signal of a voltage or current.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein selecting includes comparing the criterion voltage with a threshold voltage, and wherein the selection includes a curve with hysteresis.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein generating the first output waveform includes adjusting the first output waveform by the criterion voltage, and wherein the first output waveform is configured for a CrM operation of a power converter.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein generating the second output waveform includes adjusting the second output waveform by the criterion voltage, and wherein the second output waveform is configured for a DCM operation of a power converter.

### Claim 35 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the received feedback signal is directly proportional to one or more output parameters including:
an output current error,
an output voltage error,
an output current, and
an output voltage.

### Claim 36 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein one of the first output waveform of the CrM module or the second output waveform of the DCM module is modified, and wherein the modification includes a change of a time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the first output waveform is modified and the modification includes an increase of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36, wherein the second output waveform is modified and the modification includes a reduction of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 39 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the first output waveform and the second output waveform are a series of pulses.

### Claim 40 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the dual-mode controller is coupled to a power converter for output control.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40, wherein the power converter is an AC/DC power converter.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the AC/DC power converter is an isolated AC/DC power converter.

### Claim 43

A method of controlling an isolated AC/DC power converter, wherein the converter includes a dual-mode primary controller and a secondary controller, the method comprising:
rectifying an alternating input voltage;
applying the rectified voltage to a primary winding of a transformer, the primary winding being coupled to a switch and regulated by the switch;
driving an output load by a secondary winding of the transformer, the load coupled to the secondary controller;
generating an error voltage by the secondary controller;
providing the error voltage to the dual-mode primary controller;
based on the error voltage, providing by the dual-mode primary controller one of
a first output waveform generated by a critical conducting mode (CrM) module,
a second output waveform generated by a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module; and
controlling output load parameters by applying the provided output waveform of the dual-mode primary controller to the switch.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, wherein the error voltage is directly proportional to one or more output parameters including:
an output current error,
an output voltage error,
an output current, and
an output voltage.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The method of claim 43, wherein one of the first output waveform or the second output waveform is modified, and wherein the modification includes a change of a time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the first output waveform is modified and the modification includes an increase of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 47 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the second output waveform is modified and the modification includes a reduction of the time the output waveform is configured to turn the switch on.

### Claim 48

A dual-mode controller circuit configured to provide pulses for driving a switch on or off for controlling an output of a power converter, the circuit comprising:
a feedback (FB) node adapted to receive a feedback signal of a voltage or a current;
a compensation (COMP) node;
an output (GATE) node configured to provide the pulses;
an integrator module including:
a first inverting input node coupled to the FB node of the circuit,
a second non-inverting input node coupled to a first reference signal of a voltage or a current, and
a third output node coupled to the COMP node of the circuit, wherein a voltage of the output node of the integrator is an integral of a difference of the signals of the first input and the second input nodes of the integrator;
a comparator module configured to provide a binary selector (SEL) voltage including:
a first input node coupled to the COMP node of the circuit,
a second input node coupled to a threshold voltage, and
a third output node, wherein the SEL voltage of the output node of the comparator is set based on comparing a voltage of the first input of the comparator with a voltage of the second input of the comparator, and wherein a jump of the SEL voltage includes a curve with hysteresis;
a critical conducting mode (CrM) module configured to generate a first series of pulses with a first frequency and a first duty cycle adjusted to a voltage at the COMP node of the circuit and adapted for a CrM operation of the power converter, the CrM module including:
a first input node coupled to the COMP node of the circuit,
a second input node coupled to the output node of the comparator module and receiving the SEL voltage, and
a third output node configured to generate the first series of pulses based on the SEL voltage;
a discontinuous conducting mode (DCM) module configured to generate a second series of pulses with a second frequency and a second duty cycle adjusted to the voltage at the COMP node of the circuit and adapted for a DCM operation of the power converter, the DCM module including:
a first input node coupled to the COMP node of the circuit,
a second input node coupled to the output node of the comparator module and receiving the SEL voltage, and
a third output node configured to generate the second series of pulses based on the SEL voltage; and
a gate driver (DR) module configured to receive one of the first series of pulses or the second series of pulses, the DR module including:
a first input node coupled to the output nodes of the CrM and DCM modules and configured to receive one of the first series of pulses or the second series of the pulses base on the SEL voltage,
a second output node coupled to the GATE node of the circuit and configured to provide the received series of pulses at the GATE node of the circuit.