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US 2017/0317594 A1Published application
Bulk capacitor switching for power converters
AssigneeInfineon Technologies Americas Corp.
InventorAnders Lind
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a circuit includes a voltage rail, a reference node, a first capacitor, and a capacitor module. The first capacitor is coupled to the voltage rail and to the reference node. The capacitor module includes a second capacitor and a switching unit. The switching unit is configured to operate in a closed state and an open state. The switching unit couples the second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor in the closed state. The switching unit decouples the second capacitor from the first capacitor in the open state.
Claims20
A circuit comprising:
- a voltage rail;
- a reference node;
- a first capacitor coupled to the voltage rail and to the reference node;
- and
- a capacitor module comprising:
- a second capacitor;
- and
- a switching unit configured to operate in a closed state and an open state,
- wherein the switching unit couples the second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor in the closed state, and
- wherein the switching unit decouples the second capacitor from the first capacitor in the open state.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- estimating, by a circuit, a voltage between a voltage rail and a reference node;
- determining, by the circuit, whether the voltage between the voltage rail and the reference node exceeds a voltage threshold in response to estimating the voltage between the voltage rail and the reference node;
- and
- increasing, by the circuit, a capacitance between the voltage rail and the reference node by selectively coupling, by the circuit, a capacitor to the voltage rail and to the reference node in response to determining that the voltage between the voltage rail and the reference node does not exceed the voltage threshold.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a rectifier configured to supply a rectified AC voltage to a voltage rail and a reference node;
- a first capacitor configured to reduce an alternating current (AC) voltage ripple of the rectified AC voltage, the first capacitor being coupled to the voltage rail and to the reference node;
- a capacitor module configured to reduce the AC voltage ripple of the rectified AC voltage, the capacitor module comprising:
- a second capacitor;
- and
- a switching unit configured to operate in a closed state and an open state,
- wherein the switching unit couples the second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor in the closed state, and
- wherein the switching unit decouples the second capacitor from the first capacitor in the open state;
- and
- a converter coupled to the voltage rail and to the reference node.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.