Isolated phase shifted dc to dc converter with secondary side regulation and sense coil to reconstruct primary phase

An isolated dual active bridge DC to DC converter, comprising:

• a transformer, including a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a sense coil;
• a first bridge circuit, including a first bridge circuit input to receive an input signal, a first bridge circuit output coupled with the primary winding, and a plurality of primary switches individually coupled between the first bridge circuit input and the first bridge circuit output, the primary switches operative according to primary side switching control signals to provide a primary voltage signal to the first bridge circuit output;
• a second bridge circuit, including a second bridge circuit input coupled to receive a secondary voltage signal from the secondary winding, a second bridge circuit output, and a plurality of secondary switches individually coupled between the second bridge circuit input and the second bridge circuit output, the secondary switches operative according to secondary side switching control signals to provide an output voltage or current signal at the second bridge circuit output;
• a primary side control circuit configured to provide the primary side switching control signals according to a primary side clock signal;
• and
• a secondary side control circuit configured to:
• provide the secondary side switching control signals to regulate the output voltage or current signal by controlling a phase shift angle between switching transitions of the secondary side switching control signals and switching transitions of a secondary side clock signal;
• and control the switching transitions of the secondary side switching control signals to lag the switching transitions of the secondary side clock signal by the phase shift angle in a range between −90 degrees and +90 degrees in each of a plurality of secondary side switching cycles;
• a sense coil voltage signal of the sense coil having a waveform including a first rising edge transitioning from a maximum negative voltage level toward zero volts, a second rising edge extending to a maximum positive voltage level, a first falling edge extending from the maximum positive voltage level toward zero volts, and a second falling edge extending to the maximum negative voltage level;
• and
• the secondary side control circuit including a clock recovery circuit configured to synchronize the secondary side clock signal to:
• transitions in the sense coil voltage signal;
• and the first rising edge of the sense coil voltage signal according to the level shifted voltage signal.

A control circuit to regulate an output voltage or current signal of an isolated dual active bridge DC to DC converter having first and second bridge circuits and a transformer, the control circuit comprising:

• a clock circuit to provide a secondary side clock signal;
• a delay circuit, including a first input to receive the secondary side clock signal, a second input to receive a control output signal to set a phase shift angle, and an output to provide a delay clock signal including transitions delayed by the phase shift angle from switching transitions of the secondary side clock signal;
• a secondary side driver circuit, including an input coupled with the output of the delay circuit to receive the delay clock signal, and a plurality of outputs to provide secondary side switching control signals having switching transitions corresponding to the transitions of the delay clock signal to operate switches of the second bridge circuit to generate the output voltage or current signal;
• an output control circuit, including an output coupled with the second input of the delay circuit to provide the control output signal to set the phase shift angle according to the output voltage or current signal and a setpoint signal;
• a clock recovery circuit configured to synchronize the secondary side clock signal to transitions in a sense coil voltage signal of a sense coil of the transformer;
• and
• an analog front end circuit, including an input coupled to the sense coil to receive the sense coil voltage signal, a level shifting circuit, a filter circuit, and an output to provide a level shifted voltage signal according to the sense coil voltage signal;
• the clock recovery circuit including an input connected to the output of the analog front end circuit to receive the level shifted voltage signal, and an output to provide a recovered clock signal including transitions corresponding to the transitions in the sense coil voltage signal;
• and
• the clock circuit including a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit, including:
• a first input connected to the output of the clock recovery circuit to receive the recovered clock signal;
• a second input connected to receive the secondary side clock signal;
• and a DLL output to provide the secondary side clock signal having transitions corresponding to transitions in the recovered clock signal.

A control circuit to regulate an output voltage or current signal of an isolated dual active bridge DC to DC converter having first and second bridge circuits and a transformer, the control circuit comprising:

• a clock circuit to provide a secondary side clock signal;
• a delay circuit, including a first input to receive the secondary side clock signal, a second input to receive a control output signal to set a phase shift angle, and an output to provide a delay clock signal including transitions delayed by the phase shift angle from switching transitions of the secondary side clock signal;
• a secondary side driver circuit, including an input coupled with the output of the delay circuit to receive the delay clock signal, and a plurality of outputs to provide secondary side switching control signals having switching transitions corresponding to the transitions of the delay clock signal to operate switches of the second bridge circuit to generate the output voltage or current signal, the secondary side driver circuit being configured to control the switching transitions of the secondary side switching control signals to lag the switching transitions of the secondary side clock signal by the phase shift angle in a range between −90 degrees and +90 degrees in each of a plurality of secondary side switching cycles;
• an output control circuit, including an output coupled with the second input of the delay circuit to provide the control output signal to set the phase shift angle according to the output voltage or current signal and a setpoint signal;
• and
• a sense coil voltage signal of a sense coil of the transformer having a waveform including a first rising edge transitioning from a maximum negative voltage level toward zero volts, a second rising edge extending to a maximum positive voltage level, a first falling edge extending from the maximum positive voltage level toward zero volts, and a second falling edge extending to the maximum negative voltage level;
• and
• a clock recovery circuit configured to synchronize the secondary side clock signal to:
• transitions in the sense coil voltage signal;
• and the first rising edge of the sense coil voltage signal according to the level shifted voltage signal.